Why the 8 kg Golden needs closer watching
A tablespoon of olive oil is a noticeable amount for a dog that size, though not immediately dangerous. The main concern is digestive upset — you might see greasy stools or mild diarrhea within 6-12 hours. Given her weight, her system should handle this without lasting issues, but check for vomiting or loss of appetite, which would mean the fat is sitting heavily.
Unlike toxins where weight matters critically, olive oil's effects are more about individual tolerance. Still, the Golden's larger intake means she's more likely to show signs than the Poodle. Keep both dogs' water bowls full to help their systems process the extra fat smoothly.
The 5 kg Poodle's near-miss details
Unless you saw the Poodle actively licking oil, he probably got little to none. Do a quick check around the bottle or bowl for paw prints or lick marks that might suggest he sampled some. Even a few licks wouldn't be harmful at his size, but sensitive dogs might get slightly looser stools.
There's no need to monitor him as closely as the Golden unless you find evidence he did ingest some. If the oil was in a shared food bowl, assume the Golden took the lion's share — their size difference means she'd naturally eat faster and more.
Shared space considerations for two dogs
With multiple pets, watch where each dog is in the next few hours. The Golden might seek out grass to eat if her stomach feels off, while the Poodle could show interest if she vomits. Keep trash cans secured and limit access to rich foods, as one dog's digestive upset can trigger scavenging in the other.
Their shared environment means any mess from diarrhea will need quick cleaning to prevent the Poodle from investigating. Use a baby gate if needed to separate them during bathroom breaks, giving the Golden privacy if she's feeling unwell.
When to relax about this incident
If 24 hours pass with no vomiting, no diarrhea, and both dogs acting normally, you can consider this resolved. The Golden's stools might still be slightly soft the next day but should firm up quickly. For future oil spills, the same rule applies — the larger dog will usually consume more, but neither is at real risk from these amounts.
Should either dog show repeated vomiting, refuse food, or have bloody diarrhea, that warrants a vet call. But with plain olive oil in these quantities, you're far more likely to see temporary mild digestive noise than true illness.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Olive oil food facts page.