Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?

There is nothing your dog won’t eat, especially if it comes from your plate. They don’t really care if it is a tomato or a nice piece of meat; if you are eating it, your dog wants some.

Experienced owners know that giving table scraps to your dog is not generally a good idea, but it can be pretty hard to ignore your dog when they look at you with their large puppy eyes. We know that feeding our dog from our plate is not something to encourage, but honestly, we just can’t help ourselves sometimes.

If you are like us and love tomatoes, it is more than likely that your dog will ask for some. As a dog owner, you should know what human foods are safe for dogs and whether or not you can feed your dog some tomatoes from your plate. The answer to the question “Can dogs eat tomatoes?” is not that simple. Here is why.

Are tomatoes safe for dogs?

The shortest answer would be - yes, but under certain conditions. Tomatoes are a part of the nightshade family of fruits (yes, fruits), and they contain parts that can be toxic for your dog if eaten in large amounts. This is a fruit that is considered a vegetable by nutritionists, which is a piece of information that will not affect you or your dog’s life in any way. It is just a fun thing to know.

There are plenty of health benefits a tomato can provide us with. It is rich in fiber but low in calories, which is really good for your dog’s digestion. Tomatoes are also rich in:

Vitamin A - Great for the immune system, reproduction, vision, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Vitamin C - Repairs body tissue, helps absorb iron, boosts the immune system, etc.
Lycopene - Reduces the risk of heart disease and helps keep bones strong and healthy
Beta-carotene - Helps improve cognition

Interested in giving your dog healthy fruit? Check out this article: Healthy Fruits That Are Safe For Dogs.

Can tomatoes be dangerous?

The green parts of the tomato, the stem and the vine are potentially dangerous. They contain solanine, which is a toxin that is toxic to dogs. The worst thing you can do is to let your dog loose in your tomato garden filled with unripened tomatoes.

While ripened tomato contains relatively small amounts of solanine, the unripened one has significantly more of it. You should keep a close eye on your dog if you have green tomatoes in your garden or your home. With the rise of urban agriculture and gardens’ popularity, pets get access to unripened fruits and veggies a lot more than they used to. It is vital that you know which are safe and which are not.

tomato in basket

There is a chance your dog might be allergic to tomatoes, so if you are adamant about giving your dog tomato, start with a small piece and see how their body reacts. Before you do that, ask your vet for advice and pointers on safely giving your dog tomato.

Here is another popular vegetable that you could feed your dog. Check out this article: Can Dogs Eat Broccoli?

How to safely give your dog tomatoes

Your dog might be one of those dogs with no gastrointestinal problems, and anything you give them will completely agree with their stomach. Feeding your dog a tomato can be a delicious little treat for them, but follow to guidelines your vet gave you and stick to the recommended dosage.

Choose ripe, red tomatoes with stem, vines, and leaves removed. Make sure you don’t overfeed your dog with tomatoes. Humans might like some seasoning like vinegar or salt that can add something special to the taste, but dogs shouldn’t get seasoned tomatoes. You can give your dog tomatoes that are fresh, ripe, and unseasoned. If you could make sure that the tomatoes were grown with no pesticides, that would be even better.

golden retriever eating

How much is too much for my dog?

That is a tricky question that cannot be answered easily. It will depend on the breed because a Chihuahua and a Great Dane won’t have the same tolerance. You should ask your vet for advice and not overfeed your dog. You can serve tomato as a treat, and don’t make it part of your dog’s everyday meal.

If you do overfeed your dog, or they get their paws on unripened tomatoes, there is a chance they can get poisoned. If that happens, you should react quickly and take them to the vet as fast as possible. These are the symptoms of tomato poisoning: