Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?

Ripe red tomato flesh is safe for dogs in small amounts. The green parts of the plant are not. The free Dog Toxic-Foods Checker lists green (unripe) tomato and stems as Toxic: “The green parts — unripe fruit, leaves and stems — contain the nightshade toxins solanine and tomatine, which can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness, tremors and an abnormal heart rate. Ripe red tomato flesh, in small amounts, is safe.”

So tomatoes sit in the Caution middle ground: the fruit is fine once ripe, and the plant is a real hazard. This page covers how to tell the difference and what to do if your dog raided the garden.

Ripe vs. green: where the toxin is

Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family. The ASPCA lists the tomato plant as toxic to dogs, with solanine as the toxic principle, and notes that the ripe fruit is non-toxic. The AKC explains that solanine and its cousin tomatine are found mostly in the green parts of the plant, and the amount in the fruit drops as it ripens. So:

• Ripe red tomato flesh: safe in small amounts.
• Green, unripe tomatoes: avoid.
• Leaves, stems, vines and flowers: avoid, and keep your dog out of the plants.

Signs of tomato plant poisoning

The ASPCA lists these signs from the tomato plant:

• Drooling
• Loss of appetite
• Severe stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea)
• Depression or lethargy
• Weakness
• Dilated pupils
• Slow heart rate

The checker adds tremors and an abnormal heart rate. If your dog ate green fruit, leaves or stems, call your vet or a poison line: ASPCA (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. The AKC also advises calling your vet if a dog eats a large amount of leaves or stems.

How to share ripe tomato

• Ripe and red only, with the stem and any green bits removed.
• A few small pieces as an occasional treat; halve cherry tomatoes for small dogs.
• Plain: no salt, oil, dressing or seasoning.
• Count it as a treat, inside the roughly 10% of daily calories that treats should stay under, the guideline AAHA uses.

The AKC notes some dogs can react to tomatoes with hives, coughing, wheezing or trouble breathing. Trouble breathing is an emergency.

Tomato products to skip

• Ketchup, pasta sauce and pizza sauce: usually made with onion and garlic, plus salt and sugar (onion and garlic).
• Salsa and pico de gallo: onion, garlic and often hot peppers.
• Tomato soup: salt, cream and seasoning.
• Pizza: sauce, cheese, salty toppings and garlic crust.

Garden safety

If you grow tomatoes, fence the bed or keep your dog leashed near it, especially puppies and dogs who chew plants. Pick up fallen green fruit. Potato plants and green potatoes carry a similar nightshade toxin (potatoes). The free food safety chart puts the whole Safe / Caution / Never list on the fridge.