Vegetables are an indispensable part of our daily diet. Veggies are rich in minerals and vitamins our body needs to function properly. However, just because something is good for us, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s good for our dogs. For example, tomatoes are one of the most common vegetables found in our diet. We all know tomatoes are healthy for us and all the health benefits they bring. However, are tomatoes good or bad for our dogs? Can our furry friends eat tomatoes?
Are Tomatoes Bad For Dogs?
The short answer would be yes, dogs can eat tomatoes. However, there are several things you should keep in mind when feeding your dog tomatoes.
Tomatoes are vegetables from the nightshade family. Therefore, they contain substances that are, in higher amounts, toxic to dogs.
For example, tomatoes contain solanine. This substance is toxic to dogs. However, solanine is mostly concentrated in the leaves and the stem of the tomato plant and green, young tomatoes.
On the other hand, ripe tomatoes contain far less solanine and are safe for your dog to eat.
Tomatine poisoning is very rare in dogs. However, you need to be careful if you have a garden with tomato plants as your dog may consume leaves or green tomatoes.
If the dog ate leaves, stem, or green tomatoes, he will exhibit the following symptoms:
- Muscle weakness
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Loss of coordination
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal heart rate
- Drowsiness
In case you know your dog ate green parts of the tomato plant and notice any of the following symptoms above, call the vet immediately.
Tomatoes can also worsen symptoms in dogs that are already suffering from gastrointestinal issues or acid reflux.
Can Dogs Be Allergic To Tomatoes?
Yes, dogs can be allergic to tomatoes. In some cases, an affected dog may have an allergic reaction that can lead to a potentially fatal condition – anaphylaxis.
Are Tomatoes Good For Dogs?
So, what exactly is the connection between dogs and tomatoes? Can dogs get any health benefits from eating tomatoes? Tomatoes are low in calories, high in fiber and rich in nutrients. Therefore, tomatoes are good for dogs if consumed in smaller quantities. They are a common snack and meal ingredient for humans due to their low calorie and high fiber content. They are high in the carotenoids lycopene and beta-carotene, which can aid in disease prevention.
Tomatoes also include anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. In the minerals department, they have a lot to offer as well. They’re high in folate, potassium, and chromium. So they’re obviously nutrient-dense. But what are the impacts of these nutrients on our dog’s health?
Benefits of tomatoes:
- Vitamin C – improves the health of the skin and boost the immune system
- Vitamin A – improves vision
- Folate and potassium – regulate blood pressure and improve muscle health
- Lycopene – reduces the risk of heart disease and promotes strong bones
- Beta-carotene – improves cognition
How To Serve Tomatoes To Your Dog?
Before giving tomatoes to your dog, consult with your vet to make sure it’s completely safe. Dogs get all the needed nutrients through their regular diet, so they don’t really need tomatoes. However, tomatoes can serve as an occasional healthy treat.
Make sure to give your dog only ripe tomatoes without leaves, stems, or vines. Don’t add salt on any other spice to the tomatoes you are planning to give to your dog.
Tomatine is only found in trace concentrations in ripe, red tomatoes. As a result, ripe tomatoes are generally okay for dogs to consume as a treat every now and again. However, because a puppy’s immune system is still developing during the first year of life, you should generally avoid feeding even ripe, red tomatoes to a young dog.
Are Cherry Tomatoes Safe for Dogs to Eat?
These little, sweet fruits are a common human snack. No tomato type is off-limits as long as the treat is ripe and red in color. Cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, and other varieties are safe to eat. You might wish to feed a smaller amount of a larger tomato.
Are Grape Tomatoes Safe for Dogs to Eat?
Grape tomatoes are the same way. It’s tempting to toss a grape tomato to your dog when you’re having one yourself. Just make sure it’s totally ripe before eating it and only eat them in moderation. It’s worth noting that grapes are poisonous to dogs, yet grape tomatoes aren’t related to grapes at all!
Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes Safe for Dogs to Eat?
Sun-dried tomatoes are frequently made with ripe tomatoes, so the issue isn’t so much about the tomatoes themselves. However, they are frequently sold packaged in oil or with other ingredients that may be harmful to your dog’s health, such as garlic and other seasonings. Sun-dried tomatoes cooked at home are most likely made from ripe, peeled, organic tomatoes, which should be fine for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Tomatoes?
One advantage of eating cooked rather than raw ripe, red tomatoes is that cooked tomatoes deliver the powerful antioxidant lycopene in a form that the body may more easily absorb. So, are cooked tomatoes safe for dogs?
You can periodically give your dog pure, ripe, red-cooked tomatoes as a reward. However, make certain that no green or underripe tomatoes were used in the cooking process, as they are poisonous to your dog. Make sure the cooked tomatoes don’t include any additional components that could hurt your dogs, such as sodium, seasonings, or additives.
What About Canned Tomatoes?
Canned tomatoes should be fine for your dog to eat as long as the tomatoes are exclusively sourced from ripe, red, mature tomatoes. However, it’s a good idea to look over the ingredients list beforehand. You’re looking to see if there are any additional substances in the canned tomatoes, such as sodium or preservatives. It is advisable not to feed canned tomatoes to your dog if you see these ingredients.
Is Tomato Soup Safe for Dogs?
Is it true that tomatoes in tomato soup are bad for dogs? The major reason not to feed tomato soup to your dog is that it may contain other components such as sodium, flavorings, spices, onions, garlic, or dairy. These extra ingredients could be dangerous or hazardous to your dog. It’s better not to give it to your dog if you’re not positive about any of the ingredients.
Is Tomato Sauce Safe for Dogs?
Cooked tomatoes have been demonstrated to aid in the absorption of its nutrients, particularly lycopene, which has a variety of possible health advantages. However, only give your dog cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce if you know they were made with only ripe, red, mature tomatoes.
Also, check to see if any other ingredients have been added to the sauce before giving it to your dog. Onions and garlic, for example, are two typical complementing components in tomato-based foods that can be hazardous to dogs.
Is Tomato Juice Safe for Dogs?
Again, it’s critical to examine the potential additives in tomato juice to ensure that nothing hazardous to your dog is there. If the tomato juice is created from pure, ripe tomatoes, it should be okay for your dog to drink in little amounts. A dog, on the other hand, is unlikely to swallow much tomato juice. He’ll probably be satisfied with a couple of tongue-laps!
Is Tomato Paste Safe for Dogs?
The worry, as with the tomato sauce, is what may have been added to the paste. If it’s just pure tomato paste made from ripe tomatoes, like in a pizza recipe for dogs, it should be fine in moderation.
Conclusion
Ripe tomatoes are good for dogs if you give them occasionally as a treat. On the other hand, tomato leaves and green, young tomatoes are bad for dogs due to the higher concentration of a toxic substance called solanine. Before giving your dog tomatoes or any other vegetable, please consult your vet to make sure it’s completely safe.
What should I do if my dog eats tomatoes?
If your dog eats ripe, red, mature tomatoes, keep an eye on her for the next hour to make sure she doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of tomatine poisoning or an allergic response. Whether your dog eats a small number of green tomatoes keep an eye on her for the next hour to see if she displays any signs of tomatine poisoning. Some dogs may exhibit symptoms after ingesting only a small amount of food, while others may be unaffected.
If your dog consumes a considerable amount of green tomatoes, contact your veterinarian straight away to schedule an urgent care appointment. If your normal veterinarian is unavailable for whatever reason, make arrangements to transport your dog to an urgent care vet facility as soon as possible.