Can dogs eat tomatoes?

Perhaps the dog ate the last piece of pizza lying near the oven, or licked the salsa out of the gravy boat left on the coffee table. In this case, any owner will begin to worry about whether she will become ill from tomatoes.

Can dogs eat tomatoes and will they be safe for a pet?

Can dogs eat tomatoes?

According to experts pet poisoning hotlineTomatoes are generally safe enough for dogs. However, not all parts of this plant are suitable for them to eat. A pet may well eat the red, orange or yellow pulp of ripe tomatoes, which a person eats and uses in cooking.

However, the same cannot be said with certainty about other parts of tomatoes, including leaves, flowers, stems or unripe fruits. They contain tomatine, a chemical that, if ingested, can cause serious illness in an animal.

As explains American Kennel Club (AKC), if your pet has eaten the green parts of a tomato, watch for the following signs of poisoning and call your veterinarian as soon as possible:

• stomach upsetwhich may include vomiting or diarrhea;
• violation of coordination of movements;
• tremor or seizures;
• muscle weakness.

How to give your dog tomatoes safely

Ripe tomatoes are considered non-toxic to pets, but should be offered as a treat rather than a staple food. You can treat your dog to pickled cherry tomatoes from the garden, or give him a slice of tomato at dinner. The main thing is not to forget to remove the stems and leaves.

As for pizza and salsa, it’s better do not feed your pet complex human foodmade up of many different ingredients. For example, chopped onion or garlic can be added to salsa or pizza sauce. And foods from the onion family are not safe for pets to eat. AKCC.

How to grow tomatoes if a dog lives in the house

A gardener might consider growing tomatoes in pots, which should be placed away from where the pet plays. Some amateur gardeners put pots of tomatoes on the porch of the house or on the terrace for beauty. Alternatively, consider hanging pots of miniature cherry tomatoes higher up on a fence or decorative hooks.

You can also put a small fence around the beds, which will not allow the pet to sniff the seedlings and taste the poisonous green parts of the tomatoes.

Dogs, like people, sometimes like to snack on something tasty. Although veterinarians generally do not recommend feeding your pets table food, a slice of tomato from your dinner salad will not harm your pet. Important not let the dog roam the garden unsupervised, as this can end in trouble. The main thing to remember is that the pet can be fed the pulp of ripe tomatoes in moderation as a treat and should not be allowed to eat green stems and leaves.

Read also:

• Is it possible to give pets fruits and berries?
• What can you feed your dog for the holidays?
• How to treat an upset stomach in a dog
• Should I give my dog ​​vitamins and supplements?