To-may-to, to-mah-to? It doesn’t matter how you pronounce tomato. This fruit has long been known to provide an array of great health benefits, in addition to being delicious. So many foods we encounter in our daily lives involves tomatoes.
Just think – there’s ketchup, pizza, burgers, salsa, spaghetti and just plain tomato slices. But as a dog owner, you may be asking – can dogs safely eat tomatoes? For a fruit we encounter and eat so often, it’s a fair question.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Tomatoes.
Dogs can safely eat tomatoes, but only in moderation. Veterinarians agree that tomatoes aren’t bad for your dogs to consume. According to Dr. Marie DVM, there hasn’t been any reported cases of a dog seeing toxic effects from eating slices of tomatoes.
On the contrary, tomatoes can potentially provide amazing health benefits to both humans and dogs through its lycopene, tons of Vitamin C and a wide variety of antioxidants. But even so, there can be side effects and health issues from eating tomatoes.
5 Health Benefits of Dogs Eating Tomatoes
In order to fully understand the health benefits and potential side effects of dogs consuming tomatoes, we must break down the nutrition in these tasty fruits. Here are the main nutrients in a tomato and their recommended daily value for humans.
In a single medium-sized tomato (123 grams):
- Vitamin C – 28% Daily Value
- Vitamin A – 20% DV
- 3.2 grams of sugar
- 1.5 grams of dietary fiber
- 292 milligrams of Potassium (8% DV)
- Magnesium – 3% DV
- Vitamin B6 – 6% DV
1. Tomato has amazing antioxidants
Tomatoes are often described as a treasure chest of antioxidants. Okay, I might have made that up, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true. In fact, tomatoes are packed with your great antioxidants such as Vitamin C, manganese, and beta-carotene.
Yes, the same beta-carotene that’s found in cantaloupes and mangoes, which helps your canine improve and sharpen their vision. Just a few slices of raw tomatoes for your aging dog might not be a bad idea every now and then.
2. Tomato lycopene can improves your dog’s health
Like other fruits with a reddish color, tomatoes contain a special phytochemical called Lycopene. It’s a bright red carotene that promotes good health. However, up until now, research for the effects on dogs are still preliminary.
Still, there doesn’t seem to be any reason why that wouldn’t be the same case for our canine friends. This special carotene can help combat degenerative diseases and certain forms of cancer. Feel free to chop up a few slices for an older dog!
Other dog-safe vegetables that provide this Lycopene carotene include carrots! An alternative, such as Mangoes can provide Vitamin A to your dog, which also helps with enhancing their vision.
3. Tomatoes can strengthen a dog’s bone tissues
Your dog’s bone health can benefit from occasional tomato slices. In recent studies, research shows that when tomatoes are completely removed from a human’s daily diet regimen for as little as a few weeks, the bone tissues of that human became much weaker.
In theory, this would apply to dogs as well. This great health benefit is likely due to the sizable amount of Vitamin K and calcium provided in tomatoes. Other fruits and vegetables with Vitamin K include: cucumbers, celery, avocado, broccoli and blueberries.
The occasional tomato slice would be a great idea for old, yet active dogs. Even if you have a young dog, it’s always a great idea to strengthen your dog’s bone tissue, especially for active dog breeds.
4. Tomatoes may improve a dog’s eye vision
One of the top nutrients contained in tomatoes is Vitamin A. In a single medium-sized tomato, there is roughly 20% (of a human’s daily value) worth of the A vitamin. That means just five medium tomatoes will get you your recommended dose of Vitamin A for the day.
Vitamin A has long been known to help humans improve their eye vision. However, this benefit can also apply to your dog as well. This powerful antioxidant has also been known to help battle “night blindness,” which may be crucial for an outdoor dog.
This means that a few slices of tomatoes may greatly benefit an older dog. Tomatoes are especially great for an aging outdoor dog. Other fruits and vegetables that may improve a dog’s eyesight include: carrots, mangoes, cherries, and cantaloupes.
5. Tomatoes help promote a healthy dog heart
Has anyone ever told you that tomatoes are healthy for your heart? Well, it’s true! Tomatoes are loaded up with Potassium and a variety of B vitamins, making them healthy for your heart. These nutrients help in effectively reducing your dog’s cholesterol levels, while lowering blood pressure.
This means that including a bit of tomato in your dog’s diet can help in preventing heart attacks, strokes or any other illnesses and diseases related to their heart. Other fruits or vegetables that have a high dose of B6 vitamin and/or Potassium include: avocados, bananas, apples and oranges.
4 Potential Side Effects of Tomatoes
Now that we’ve established all the reasons that tomatoes can be wonderful snacks for your canine, there are certain side effects dog owners need to look out for.
1. Dangers of Tomatine and Solanine
Here’s the real danger of your dog consuming tomatoes. These fruits contain two substances called Alpha-tomatine and Solanine, which are toxic to dogs. This is why we stress that moderation is key in not turning tomatoes from a good to bad thing.
These two substances, especially Tomatine, can be dangerous for the dog’s heart. The good news is that it’ll have to take a huge amount of tomato to cause any damage to your dog’s heart.
In addition, Tomatine is known to be poorly absorbed in the intestines, making it even more difficult to overdose on it.
Although these substances are found throughout the whole fruit, they are highly concentrated in the stem, vine and the leaves. The actual tomato contains very little of both Tomatine and Solanine. The key to always cut out the “bad” parts before serving them to your dog.
2. Atropine Side Effects in Dogs
Besides Tomatine and Solanine, the substance called Atropine can lead to health problems and adverse symptoms in dogs when consumed in a large amount. Atropine is only located in the stems and leaves of tomatoes, and even then, there are very small traces of it.
If your dog accidentally consumes a large amount of atropine, it could lead to potential side effects such as dysphagia, dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, drowsiness, tremors and other serious side effects on the dog’s central nervous system. Avoid at all cost.
3. Tomatoes Can Make Arthritis Worse
If your dog suffers from arthritic problems, tomatoes are not suitable for them to consume. Tomatoes affect the consumption and absorption of calcium, which can lead to worsening symptoms of dogs suffering from arthritis or similar symptoms.
If you are unsure if your older dog is suffering from these symptoms, consult with a veterinarian before deciding whether to feed them tomatoes. Note: This is also true for humans as well.
On the other hand, there are other fruits and vegetables that may help with arthritis. These foods include cucumbers, celery, pineapples, broccoli and cherries. But if you do plan to use external human foods to treat arthritis in your dog, I would suggest consulting with a vet first.
4. Stomach Pains and Indigestion
There is a chance that your dog may not be able to digest tomatoes as well as you’d like. This will most likely lead to mild stomach pains, but nothing serious. However, if your dog accidentally ate a small amount of the greens of the tomato, this scenario is much more likely.
In the end, the stomach pain might induce vomiting. But after that, the toxins should be out and they’ll be okay. It wouldn’t be such a bad idea to take your dog to the vet if this happens. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially with your dog.
How Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
The preparation of tomatoes for your dog is quite simple. The first and foremost thing is to make sure the tomato is red and ripe. When tomatoes are unripe, they will have a shade of green and tend to be much harder than their ripped counterparts.
Unripe tomatoes contain much more Tomatine and Solanine, which we’ve discussed can lead some serious adverse side effects if consumed in large quantity.
How to Prepare Tomatoes for Dogs
- Always dispose of the stems, tomato leaves and anything else that isn’t the tomato itself. Never feed a tomato to a dog as a whole no matter how big your dog may be.
- Cut the tomato into smaller slices to avoid any blockage in your dog’s intestinal tract. The last thing you’d want if for them to get constipation from eating a whole tomato.
- Wash the tomatoes thoroughly before feeding them to your dog, even if they are organic. There could still be residue pesticide and/or other bacteria that may harm your dog. Your dog’s stomach will be able to handle the bacteria fairly well. However, it’s the pesticide that do the most damage.
Like with all other fruits and vegetables, always start off with a few slices if this is their first time eating tomatoes. Keep an eye out for any behavioral changes (lack of energy, extra thirsty, etc.) or changes in stool texture and habits (diarrhea, constipation, etc.) for at least 24 hours after feeding them.
If there is no allergic reaction or changes in stool habits and behavior, you can safely give them more tomatoes over time. Just keep in mind that tomatoes should not be a daily thing you feed your dog.
Can Puppies Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, puppies can eat small amounts of tomatoes. However, it is not generally recommended that you feed puppies a serving of tomatoes. Tomatoes are strong foods that may not digest well in a puppy’s stomach.
The stomach of a young dog is generally much more sensitive and weaker than the stomach of an adult dog. This fact makes them more prone to experiencing negative side effects and the potential risks associated with dogs and tomatoes.
If after reading this guide and you still want to feed your puppy some servings of tomatoes, I would urge you to discuss this with your vet. Your dog’s primary veterinarian will know best, but will most likely make the same recommendation.
Tomato Herb Dog Treat Recipe
These are the perfect savory treats for your dog to enjoy! Who said healthy can’t also taste good? These dog treats contain all the nutrients of a tomato in the form of a savory dog treat. Cook these in less than an hour and your dog will you love for this. This dog treat recipe is courtesy of Doggy Dessert Chef.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounce of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
- ½ tspn of dried basil
- 5 ounce of evaporated milk (canned)
- ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
- Using a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.
- Knead the dough into a ball and roll onto a surface with sprinkled flour (prevent sticking) to roughly ¼ inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut the shape of your dog treat.
- Using a fork, pork each dog biscuit to prevent bubbles from forming.
- Put on a sprayed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.
- Let the biscuits cool down in the refrigerate and let your dogs enjoy!
Note: Make sure the tomato paste is pure tomato paste that doesn’t include anything extra like onions, garlic or spices. Some of those ingredients can actually be toxic for your dog.
The Smart Canine is an informational website and cannot claim to provide professional advice. Although we have thoroughly researched on tomato consumption and dogs, you should treat this as supplemental knowledge. We cannot guarantee your dog will receive certain side effects or health benefits from eating tomatoes. If you have any issues and concerns, please consult with your veterinarian.
morehappawness
Wednesday 23rd of February 2022
my dog loves to eat tomatoes, it's great that this is a great and nutritious treat for him. Thank you so much for this information
francesca
Sunday 9th of October 2016
Tomatoes are great vegetables for dogs to eat. My family eats tomatoes quite often (were italian!) and we always are nice enough to share with our 1 year old dog. It's good to know that my dog is benefiting so much by eating tomatoes. Excellent job, thanks!
tigerhj
Sunday 2nd of October 2016
Apples are great fruits for dogs to eat! Slices of apples are probably my 3 year old husky's favorite treat to eat.