Can canine eat tomatoes? – Dr. Dobias Pure Therapeutic

Are tomatoes poisonous to canine: A misunderstanding in canine vitamin

There are quite a few myths surrounding what the canine eating regimen ought to or mustn’t embody, which is why discovering the reply to ‘can canine eat tomatoes?’ is just not as straightforward as you’d count on.

Within the realm of veterinary medication, many suggestions seem like handed down via generations of practitioners and accepted with out query. One such perception is the potential toxicity of tomatoes in canine.

I did loads of digging on this matter, and there doesn’t seem like any proof that tomatoes are toxic to canine.

However are tomatoes a very good addition to your canine’s eating regimen? On this article, I am going to share with you every little thing I’ve discovered about feeding tomatoes to your canine, their well being advantages and potential dangers.

Are tomatoes good for canine?

My curiosity was piqued by an interesting encounter with Bobi, the oldest canine on the planet, who had, surprisingly, been consuming tomato sauce practically each day of his lengthy, wholesome life!

This contradicts the decades-old recommendation given by veterinarians, together with myself. As a substitute, I questioned, have we overstated the hazard of tomatoes? Are ripe, cooked tomatoes protected for our canine associates?

Traditionally, our warning in direction of tomatoes stems from solanine, a glycoalkaloid discovered primarily within the inexperienced elements of the tomato plant, together with unripe tomatoes, leaves, and stems. Solanine, in substantial quantities, is certainly poisonous to canine. Nonetheless, the focus considerably drops because the tomato ripens and is negligible in crimson, mature fruits.

This leads me to surprise — maybe the hazard is just not with tomatoes per se, however moderately with their unripe fruit, stems, and leaves. Bobi was certainly one of a number of canine which have performed advantageous on tomatoes. Leonel, Bobi’s dad, has given tomatoes to his different canine, a few of whom lived for greater than twenty years!

In spite of everything these observations and the dearth of empirical proof in opposition to feeding ripe, significantly cooked tomatoes to canine, I’ve determined to not keep away from them when feeding my canine Pax.

Can canine eat tomatoes?

Sure, they will, however the selection of feeding your canine tomatoes needs to be primarily based on particular person discretion and understanding. Given present data, I can’t outright advocate tomatoes for everybody else’s canine.

Nonetheless, it could be time to reevaluate and replace our recommendation on tomatoes for canine. I take this as a reminder that we, veterinarians, should always scrutinize our suggestions to make sure we’re offering probably the most correct and helpful recommendation to canine dad and mom, regardless of how established some opinions are.

I invite you to learn our complete information on protected fruits for canine to seek out out what wholesome treats you may add to your canine’s eating regimen.

Dietary advantages of tomatoes for canine

Tomatoes are nutrient-dense fruit excessive in nutritional vitamins C and A, essential for immune operate, imaginative and prescient well being, and pores and skin and hair integrity. In addition they present a very good quantity of potassium, which helps coronary heart well being and maintains blood stress ranges.

Furthermore, tomatoes are well-known for his or her excessive lycopene content material, a robust antioxidant related to a decrease danger of coronary heart illness and sure forms of most cancers. Lycopene can also be identified for its potential skin-protective properties in opposition to UV injury.

Moreover, the folic acid in tomatoes makes them a helpful dietary selection for pregnant people, as it’s essential for stopping neural tube defects in infants. Their vitamin C content material aids in iron absorption, which may help stop anemia. 

Briefly, tomatoes are a flexible and attractive ingredient and a dietary powerhouse providing a variety of well being advantages for canine.

Attention-grabbing tomato information most individuals do not know

The tomato has an interesting historical past and cultural significance. Listed below are a number of curiosities about tomatoes:

1. Origin – The tomato is native to western South America and Central America. It was first used as meals by the Aztecs and different Native American peoples in southern Mexico.

2. European Introduction – Spanish explorers introduced tomatoes to Europe within the sixteenth century. Initially, they have been grown as decorative vegetation and have been believed to be toxic resulting from their resemblance to the lethal nightshade plant.

3. The Toxic Fable – Many Europeans feared tomatoes for a very long time as a result of they have been considered toxic. This was as a result of tomatoes are a part of the nightshade household, which incorporates a number of toxic species. Tomatoes are certainly poisonous should you eat the leaves and stems, however the fruit is completely protected for consumption.

4. The Pizza Connection – Tomatoes gained widespread acceptance in Europe within the late 18th century. In Italy, poor folks started utilizing tomatoes in tarts and pies, ultimately resulting in the invention of pizza.

5. Botanical Confusion – Is tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Botanically, tomatoes are a fruit as a result of they type from a flower and include seeds. Nonetheless, culinary contexts typically deal with them as greens due to their savoury flavour.

6. Selection – There are about 10,000 forms of tomatoes worldwide, various in measurement, form, and color. They vary from small cherry tomatoes to giant beefsteak tomatoes and from spherical to pear-shaped. As well as, they are often crimson, yellow, orange, inexperienced, purple, and even black.

7. The Tomato Competition – In Spain, the city of Buñol hosts an annual pageant referred to as La Tomatina. Hundreds of individuals throw ripe tomatoes at one another in a large tomato combat. This peculiar occasion has been held since 1945 and is a big vacationer attraction.

8. The Nice Tomato Debate – Within the USA, a case reached the Supreme Court docket in 1893 to determine whether or not tomatoes have been a fruit or vegetable. The court docket dominated that for commerce functions, tomatoes needs to be categorised as a vegetable since they have been usually served with dinner and never dessert. Nonetheless, the ruling was about costs, as greens have been topic to import duties, whereas fruits weren’t. 

Can canine eat tomatoes – FAQ

• Can canine eat uncooked tomatoes?

Sure, however solely ripe, crimson tomatoes which were completely washed. If you wish to feed your canine tomatoes, keep away from inexperienced or unripe tomatoes as these are excessive in solanine, a pure chemical that’s poisonous to canine.

• How a lot tomato is protected for canine?

Tomatoes needs to be fed sparsely, as a deal with. You can begin by giving your canine one or two slices to see how they react.

• Can canine eat cherry tomatoes?

Sure, as with common tomatoes, be sure they’re ripe first and feed sparsely.


• Are tomatoes toxic for canine?

No, ripe tomatoes are protected for canine as an occasional deal with. Be certain that to take away the stems and leaves and keep away from inexperienced tomatoes as these include solanine and tomatine which are poisonous to canine.


• Can canine have tomato juice?

Sure, if the juice is home made and created from ripe tomatoes. Keep away from feeding your canine retailer purchased tomato juice as it could actually include preservatives, components and seasonings which are dangerous for canine.