When it comes to dogs and tomatoes, you must exercise caution and practice moderation. You may feed them a few pieces of ripe red tomato or cooked ripe tomato. However, you must never feed them green tomatoes, stems, and leaves. These contain solanine and tomatine, both of which are toxic to dogs.
Are Tomatoes Good for Dogs?
If you have been wondering, āCan dogs eat tomatoes?ā, then the answer is that ripe tomatoes in small amounts are generally safe for your dog. They even provide your pet with the following health benefits:
Antioxidants - Tomatoes contain lycopene and vitamins A and C. These boost your petās immune system and also fight free radicals, which are responsible for aging, cancer, and other inflammatory issues.
Folate or vitamin B9 - This vitamin aids in tissue growth and cell function.
Potassium - Potassium is a vital electrolyte for your dogās well-being. It helps with bone health, heart health, nerve function, muscle function, and kidney function.
Fiber - Tomatoes contain plenty of fiber, which keeps your dog full longer and can help in weight management. Fiber also keeps your dogās bowel movements regular and aids in digestive health.
Please note that tomatoes are a healthy snack for your dog, but you must feed them in moderation. As the experts at PetMD recommend, less than 10% of your dogās total daily calorie intake should come from treats like tomatoes, but the rest should come from balanced meals.
When Are Tomatoes Bad for Dogs?
The answer to the question, āCan dogs have tomatoes?ā is a mixed one.Ā
Solanine and Tomatine Toxicity
Firstly, you should never feed dogs unripe or green tomatoes as they contain a higher concentration of solanine, which is toxic to dogs. Solanine is known to result in gastrointestinal upset and breathing issues in dogs.Ā
Secondly, never feed tomato leaves and stems to dogs. Tomato plants contain even greater quantities of solanine and tomatine compared to ripe or red tomatoes. Both these compounds are poisonous to dogs and can result in heart problems, respiratory problems, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. Tomatine toxicity is known to cause loss of appetite, hypersalivation, muscle weakness, seizures, cardiac issues, and extreme lethargy in pets.
Upset Stomach
As always, consult your vet before feeding red tomatoes to your pet. And if you do choose to feed them, then please practice moderation. Too much tomato can result in diarrhea or an upset stomach due to their high acidity and fiber content.
Oxalate Stones
If your dog has kidney disease, avoid feeding them tomatoes as they contain high levels of oxalate. Oxalate-rich foods can result in urinary stones in dogs. Due to this reason, the experts at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota Urolith Center, recommend feeding dogs tomatoes in moderation.
Allergies
In rare cases, some dogs are found to be allergic to tomatoes. Watch out for signs of an allergy such as itching, swelling, and breathing issues. If your dog shows these signs, please take them to the vet.
How Many Tomatoes Can Dogs Eat?
It is important to practice moderation when it comes to feeding ripe tomatoes to your dog. Here are the portion guidelines based on dogsā weight.
Extra-small dogs (less than 20 lbs. Teacup dogs, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Papillon) - half a cherry tomato or one small piece of a full-sized ripe, red tomato, once a week.
Small dogs (21ā30 lbs Corgi, Dachshund, King Charles Spaniels, etc.) - one cherry tomato or one or two small pieces of a full-sized, ripe, red tomato, one or two times per week.
Medium dogs (31ā50 lbs. Border Collie, Cocker/English/Springer Spaniel) - two cherry tomatoes or half a full-sized tomato, chopped into pieces, and given one or two times per week.
Large and extra-large dogs (90+ lbs. Great Dane, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever) - three cherry tomatoes or one large, full-sized tomato chopped up and fed once or twice a week.
Can Dogs Eat Tomato-Based Foods?
Avoid feeding certain tomato-based foods to your dog. These include:
Tomato sauces or ketchups - these contain harmful additives, onion, garlic, sugar, salt, vinegar, spices, and other preservatives that could cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. Some ingredients, like garlic and onions, are toxic to dogs.
Tomato soup - homemade tomato soup in small quantities should be okay for most dogs. However, it may be best to avoid feeding soups containing onions, garlic, and salt as these ingredients are toxic to dogs.
Canned tomato - Never feed dogs tomatoes packed in cans as they usually contain salty brine, preservatives, or other harmful ingredients. Canned tomatoes also contain spices, herbs, onion, garlic, etc., which are bad for dogs.
Signs of Tomatine Poisoning in Dogs
If you suspect your dog ate green tomatoes, stems, or leaves, please watch out for the following signs of poisoning:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Muscle weakness
Lethargy
Loss of coordination
Hypersalivation or excessive drooling
Heart palpitations or abnormal heart rate
Tremors or seizures
Please note that the answer to the question, āAre tomatoes bad for dogs?ā can sometimes be yes, especially if the tomatoes in question are unripe, green tomatoes. If your dog has eaten several pieces of green tomato or the leaves or stems of a tomato plant, please call your vet or the Animal Poison Helpline at 855-764-766. Donāt worry; solanine poisoning rarely results in death, but your dog will need immediate veterinary treatment.
How to Safely Feed Tomatoes to Your Dog
If your vet gives you the go-ahead to feed tomatoes to your dog, then it is recommended that you follow these guidelines:
Always choose ripe, organic tomatoes for dogs, as they are free from harmful fertilizers and pesticides.
Remove the vines, leaves, and stems before serving.
Wash the tomato well. This step is necessary to remove dirt from the tomatoes.
Cut the tomato into small, bite-sized pieces. Follow the portion-size guidelines based on your dogās weight.
Feed in moderation and watch out for signs of reactions.
Conclusion - Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
Your dog can eat ripe tomatoes in moderation a couple of times a week. Do not feed dogs green tomatoes, tomato leaves, and stems, and please keep your pet away from tomato-based foods like sauces and ketchups. As always, talk to your vet before introducing any new food to your petās diet. Introduce tomatoes slowly and watch out for allergic reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs digest tomato skin?
Yes, most dogs are able to eat and digest the skin of ripe, red tomatoes. However, never feed them the skin of green or unripe tomatoes. Monitor your pet when they eat tomatoes with the skin to ensure they donāt choke on it.
What vegetables canāt dogs eat?
Dogs should not eat onions, leeks, chives, eggplants, bell peppers, and unripe or green tomatoes, as these vegetables can cause digestive issues.
Are tomato vines poisonous to dogs?
Yes, tomato vines are toxic to dogs due to their solanine content. In large quantities, this compound can cause symptoms of toxicity, such as vomiting, diarrhea, breathing issues, and even cardiac problems in dogs.
Is it OK for dogs to eat tomatoes?
Yes, it is okay for dogs to eat tomatoes as long as they are ripe and in moderate amounts.
How much tomato can a dog eat?
According to the general rule, treats should only make up 10% of your dogās diet. Since tomato is a treat, it should be served in moderation. This is because overindulgence can lead to harmful effects. Also, you should note the size of your dog before introducing them to tomatoes.
Can dogs eat tomatoes with skin?
Most certainly dogs can eat tomatoes with skin. However, you must ensure that the tomato fruit is fully ripe and free of green stems.
Can dogs eat grape tomatoes?
Grape tomatoes are safe for your dogās consumption as long as they are ripe and eaten in moderation.Ā
Can dogs have cherry tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes are also safe for your dog provided they are ripe, red and free of any green parts (i.e. stems and leaves).
