Round, red, juicy and delicious; tomatoes are packed full of vitamin C, which may leave many of us pet parents wondering—can dogs eat tomatoes?
Yes, dogs can eat tomatoes. Snacking in small quantities on the fleshy parts of a fresh red tomato isn’t going to hurt your dog. But dogs should never eat tomato leaves or stems, and they can’t have green, unripe tomatoes, either. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, which means they contain a substance called solanine in the stem and leaves of the tomato plant, which is also present in the fruit before it ripens and turns red. Solanine is dangerous for dogs in large amounts, but once the fruit ripens, the levels of solanine found in the flesh of tomatoes are no longer toxic.
Are Tomatoes Good For Dogs?
Because solanine is most prevalent in tomato stems and leaves (the green parts), as well as in the green fruit before it ripens, dog owners with vegetable gardens should make sure their dogs are kept away from tomato plants. Exposure or ingestion of unripe tomatoes and their stems and leaves can be dangerous.
Many dogs don’t even like tomatoes because of the texture (and because, hey, it’s not a juicy steak). But if your dog is curious, you can offer them a bite-sized piece of ripe tomato. Or, try tossing a grape or cherry tomato into their mouths. Some dogs love the sweet, juicy vegetable/fruit, and others will just spit it out and walk away. Whilst the red flesh of a tomato, when ripe, is safe for your dog to enjoy in small quantities, you should never feed your dog the following:
- unripe, green tomatoes
- tomato plant leaves
- tomato plant stems
This doesn’t mean you have to hide tomatoes from your dog. Just store them safely out of reach.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Though tomatoes are good for dogs most of the time, if they have stems or are unripe, it can lead to problems. The good news is that solanine poisoning is rare in dogs. If you suspect that your dog has consumed raw tomatoes, including stems and leaves, look for the following symptoms:
- cardiac effects (such as arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats)
- gastrointestinal upset (an upset stomach)
- loss of coordination
- muscle weakness
- tremors
Fortunately, this kind of reaction is rare, and poisoning is treatable. Your dog would probably have to eat large amounts of stems and leaves of the tomato to get seriously ill. However, minor symptoms, including gastrointestinal distress, can occur from even small amounts. If your dog has eaten green tomatoes or tomato leaves or stems, especially in large quantities, keep an eye on them, and call your veterinarian to be safe. And if your dog shows any of the above signs, go to the emergency vet right away.
Some dogs may show an allergic reaction to tomatoes, but again, this is quite rare. An allergic reaction could manifest as hives, coughing, wheezing, swelling or difficulty breathing. Any of these reactions warrant a call to the vet, just to be safe.
How To Safely Share Tomatoes With Your Dog
Image by Ernesto Rodriguez from Pixabay
Although the stems and leaves of tomatoes are bad for dogs, ripe tomato flesh is actually considered non-toxic. So don’t worry if your dog sneaks a tomato out of your salad—it’s perfectly safe for them to snack on a ripe tomato! Tomatoes are chock-full of fibre, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C and can even be a digestive aid—as long as they’re ripe.
Garden Dangers
If your dog shows an interest in a tomato garden or plant, it’s best to ensure that the dog cannot access the plants or ingest any of the unripened tomatoes or green parts of the tomato plants. If you have an outdoor garden, consider fencing it off. If you grow your tomatoes indoors, be sure that they’re where your dog cannot reach them. If your dog accidentally gets into the garden, watch her for the symptoms listed above and call the vet if you have any concerns.
For More Information
We offer a collection of articles on foods that are healthy or dangerous for dogs to eat, covering everything from grains, fruits and vegetables. You might also be interested in reading ‘Can My Dog Eat Mashed Potatoes?’
Featured Image: Flickr
