Are you considering feeding your dog some tomatoes? But are you unsure about how safe they are? Don’t worry. Go through this article and learn all about this fruit.
Don’t worry. Go through this article and learn all about this fruit.
Are Tomatoes Safe For Dogs?
Are Tomatoes Good For Dogs?
Nutritional Value of Tomatoes
Can Tomatoes Be Bad For Dogs?
Can a Tomato Kill a Dog?
How To Safely Feed Tomatoes To Dogs?
Frequently Asked Questions
> Can Dogs Eat Tomato Soup?
> Can My Dog Eat Cooked Tomato?
> Can My Dog Eat Tomato Sauce?
> Can My Dog Eat Red Tomatoes?
> Can My Dog Eat Cherry Tomatoes?
Mostly, dogs want what their owners are eating. Whether it’s a succulent steak or a juicy red tomato, your dog will want a piece of that or maybe even more.
If you’ve been trying to consider what vegetables are not good for dogs, tomatoes are an important one to get out of the way, as the answer can be a bit complex.
Read this article to learn the answer to your question, can my dog eat tomatoes?
Yes, it is safe. However, you must understand the risks before feeding it this.
In the vegetable family, tomatoes are considered to be nightshades which means they have a few elements that can harm some animals. Therefore, if you’re wondering can tomatoes hurt my dog, then yes, they can.
So, the answer to this question is two-faced. Most toxins that are harmful are found in ripe or green tomatoes. And non-toxic tomatoes are juicy and red. These tomatoes can be fed to dogs in moderation.
Dogs are capable of enjoying a fairly diverse diet. Occasionally, tomatoes make for a healthy treat for dogs. However, feeding your dog too many tomatoes can cause a stomach upset. Tomatoes may be good for dogs but don’t make these fruits a part of its regular diet.
Your dog gets all its required nutrients from its vet-approved diet. It’s okay to feed a tomato once a week or less.
Additionally, if your dog suffers from gastroenteritis or other gastrointestinal problems, then you should probably steer clear from feeding tomatoes to your dogs.
Some dog foods have an ingredient called ‘tomato pomace’ which is used in small quantities. Pomace is the pulp, skin, and crushed seeds of the tomato. Let’s take a look at
High levels of soluble fiber is beneficial for dogs because it bolsters normal bowel movements and smooth digestion. This makes veggies such as cucumbers and tomatoes good for dogs to consume occasionally.
Moreover, tomatoes strengthen bones and considerably reduce the threat of heart disease and strokes because they are high in lycopene. Tomatoes also possess a variety of antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C and A. While vitamin C helps boost immunity and energy, vitamin A will help improve your dog’s eyesight, muscles, and nervous system.
Additionally, tomatoes possess high levels of beta-carotene which aids in stabilizing blood pressure.
Tomatoes can be a healthy addition to a dog’s treats. But tomatoes can still be bad for the health of a dog.
Tomatoes contain some components that are harmful to a variety of animals. And solanine, a substance present in the leaves and stems of the tomato plant, poses a threat to dogs if consumed in large servings.
Fortunately, solanine is mostly present in the green portion of the plant. The stems, leaves, and unripe green tomatoes tend to contain higher levels of solanine. This technically means that ripe, red tomatoes are safe for consumption.
However, in cases where your dog has consumed a lot of the green portion from the tomato plant, it may suffer from solanine poisoning. While this is fairly rare and mostly an issue for owners with vegetable gardens, it can lead to several unpleasant symptoms, such as:
Contact the vet immediately if you notice these symptoms.
Yes, a tomato can be fatal for a dog. This fruit contains an alkaloid known as tomatine. This substance can prove to be fatal. Tomatoes also contain the substance, atropine. And this substance can cause tremors, heart arrhythmias, and dilated pupils.
Interestingly, every portion of the tomato plant is poisonous except for the fruit. Therefore, if you have a tomato plant, ensure to keep your dog away from it, or simply avoid growing tomatoes at home.
Before feeding tomatoes to your dog, ensure that your vet is okay with it. After doing so, always purchase ripe and red tomatoes for your dogs. Always serve the tomatoes fresh and do not forget to remove all the stems, vines, and leaves while preparing them.
Remember not to add ingredients like salt, garlic, or onions to the tomatoes. These ingredients can be harmful to dogs.
You should also check who sources the tomatoes to avoid herbicides and pesticides – just like you ought to for human consumption.
Additionally, if you’re serving your dog a soup or sauce, ensure that the ingredients don’t have items that can threaten the health of your dog. This is why you should always prepare tomato-based meals yourself to be safe – restaurant-ordered food is likely to be unsafe for your dog.
Here is a list of the most commonly asked questions about different varieties of tomatoes and if they’re healthy for dogs.
One of the main reasons you shouldn’t feed your dog tomato soup is because of all the extra ingredients like spices, garlic, onions, and sodium. These ingredients, as we know, could cause digestive issues for your canine companions. Therefore, it’s best to avoid giving your dog tomato soup.
Yes, dogs can consume cooked tomatoes. They may be a safer option for consumption as well. However, ensure never to cook the tomatoes with ingredients that can be toxic for your dog. For example, onions, garlic, pepper, and salt are some ingredients that are unsafe for dogs and can cause upset stomachs.
A tomato sauce is not a healthy option for your dog. This is because tomato sauces mostly contain added preservatives and other ingredients like sugar and salt that are extremely unsafe for your dog. While consuming small amounts of tomato sauce won’t necessarily make your dog ill, you should still steer clear from it.
Yes, dogs can eat red tomatoes. Red tomatoes are ripe and are considered to be healthy and non-toxic to dogs. However, feed them this fruit only in moderation. Green tomatoes, on the other hand, are unripe and dangerous for dogs.
As long as the tomato is ripe and red, all varieties of tomatoes are okay. Therefore, you can feed your dog cherry tomatoes and other varieties like beefsteak tomatoes as well.
To summarize the question can my dog eat tomatoes, they certainly can.
Just remember to never give your dog an unripe green tomato. Mostly, ripe red tomatoes improve the general health of your dog if you feed the fruit to them in small quantities.
Check out this article on can dogs eat apples.
A digital marketing expert by profession, Andrews is a gifted writer and animal lover at heart. A self-confessed "pawrent", Andrews is well-versed in all things dogs. He uses his years of experience of raising puppies into show-quality dogs to help guide first-time pet parents. He believes in spreading the joy that comes with being a dog dad and advocates more families to adopt pets.
