Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes? Explained Here!

Can dogs eat tomatoes? Tomatoes are generally safe for your dogs to eat, but there are some important caveats you should be aware of before feeding them to your pet.

Tomatoes are in the nightshade family & it can poison them if they eat them in large quantities. It’s due to the presence of certain chemicals in their flesh. While cases of canine tomato poisoning are uncommon, they can occur if dogs gain access to gardens containing unripe tomatoes.

Tomatoes that you clean of their stems and leaves are generally okay for dogs to eat, but you should always check with a veterinarian before giving your dog any human food.

Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?

So, can dog eat tomato? Yes and no is the answer. Dogs can eat small amounts of tomatoes. Ripe tomatoes are not considered dangerous for dogs, so they can be fed to them occasionally as a snack.

Even though red, ripe tomatoes are safe for dogs to eat, the plants themselves are in the nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, bell peppers, and blueberries. Tomato plants have poisons that can hurt your dog.

Solanine and Tomatine are both toxic chemicals that mostly occur in the green parts of the tomato plant. That means your dog shouldn’t eat the leaves and stems of tomato plants and should stay away from young, green tomatoes. Poisoning from Tomatine can happen if you eat any of the green parts or an unripe (green) tomato.

Understanding Tomatine Poisoning?

Since tomatoes have small amounts of poisons, eating a lot of them can cause tomatine poisoning, namely “tomato poisoning.” Still, it is very unlikely that a dog will eat enough of the tomato plant to hurt itself.

But because small breeds and puppies are so small, even a small amount of tomato can poison them, so it’s important to be careful.

Are Tomatoes Good for Dogs?

So, again can dogs eat tomatos? Dogs don’t get sick from ripe tomatoes because they are not poisonous. In fact, because tomatoes are good for your health in many ways, they are often added to pet food.

Tomatoes have a lot of fiber, which makes digestion easier for your dog. They also have vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K, and folate (vitamin B9), which help tissues grow and cells work.

Read more: CAN CATS EAT BANANAS?

When Are Tomatoes Bad For Dogs?

So, now you know, can dog eat tomato? Solanine is a poison that occurs in the green parts of tomatoes, like the stems and vines, as well as in unripe tomatoes. Most of the time, they contain only small amounts of Solanine that won’t hurt dogs. But if you consume too many of them, they can cause trouble.

This is a worry for dog owners who have tomato gardens with lots of green tomatoes that their dogs could eat. If you grow tomatoes, don’t let your dog near them.

The most common sign that tomatoes have poisoned a dog is an upset stomach, but other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, confusion, an abnormal heart rate, and more. If you fear tomato poisoning, take him to the vet right away.

Sauces, soups, and juices with tomatoes may not be good for dogs, especially since they often also have salt, sugar, artificial flavors, or other harmful ingredients. It’s best not to give these things to your dog.

Instead, you can make your own tomato-based products to know exactly what’s in them. Most likely, a small amount of these things won’t hurt your dog too much, but there’s no reason to put his or her health at risk.

Like almost every other food, there is a chance that your dog is allergic to tomatoes. In rare cases, an allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. If you see coughing, sneezing, hives, swelling, trouble breathing, or other signs of an allergy, stop giving your dog tomatoes and call your vet.

Sharing Tomatoes  Safely with Dogs

So, you must be clear with can a dog eat tomatoes. Even though dogs can eat tomatoes, giving them too many can make them sick because tomatoes are acidic. Tomatoes are a treat like any other, and they should be eaten in moderation while being watched.

Start with small amounts of tomato and see how your dog reacts. But make sure that you cook the tomatoes the right way. Take off all the green parts and cut the meat into small pieces to make it easier to eat.

Even if your dog can eat tomatoes, that doesn’t mean they can eat foods made with tomatoes. Most likely, the tomato sauce on your pizza or spaghetti has other ingredients like garlic and onions that can also upset your stomach.

FAQs: Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?

Will 1 Tomato Hurt My Dog?

Give him not even a single. Dogs should never eat tomatoes. Tomatine, an alkaloid found in tomatoes is toxic to dogs. Ripe tomatoes are less likely to create problems for your dog because this chemical digests as the fruit ripen.

Can Dogs Eat Cherry Tomatoes?

Although ripe tomatoes are safe for pets to consume, they shouldn’t be fed to them often. You can safely feed your dog a cherry tomato straight from the garden or a slice of cooked tomato while you’re making dinner. It’s imperative that you get rid of any stems or leaves.

How Much Tomato Can A Dog Eat?

You can safely feed your dog one large or two little ripe red tomatoes every week, but start with an even lesser amount to make sure there is no adverse reaction. Tomatoes can cause an allergic reaction in certain dogs.