Before we start, let’s distinguish something. Tomatoes are considered as tomato fruits to botanists, while they are considered vegetables to nutritionists. In the following article, we will refer to tomatoes as vegetables.
Don’t let the Disney cartoon “Lady & the Tramp” fool you with the spaghetti scene and find out if dogs can eat tomato sauce. In 1955, no one thought this scene would hit the internet and influence dog owners nowadays.
Tomatoes are a staple ingredient for many of us. We use this versatile ingredient in many forms, from salads to sauces.
But, what will happen if dogs eat tomato sauce?
Whether you want to feed your puppy with tomatoes or want to know what to do if your “kitchen helper” ate your marinara sauce from the floor, read this article and find out more.
Can Dogs Eat Tomato?
It turns out that sometimes it might be OK for your puppy to consume tomatoes, but be careful that sauces and soups based on this plant are entirely different things because of the many mildly toxic additives they contain.
If you have a food-loving pup, be careful of the food that falls on the floor since your “kitchen helper” may gobble it up. Veterinarians say that it is OK for puppies to eat small quantities of ripe tomatoes every now and then. On the other hand, unripe tomatoes may do more harm than good, and the same stays for tomato-based products.
It doesn’t mean that you should rush to the vet every time your dog picks up something from the floor, but the goal is to stay informed and prevent unwanted poisoning from additives that are toxic to dogs.
Dogs & Tomato Sauces
Let’s start with the tomato plant products such as ketchup, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, or soup. As members of the nightshade family, tomatoes contain both harmful alkaloids and healthy ingredients.
In small quantities, ripe tomatoes are safe for dogs, while it’s not the best idea to let your puppy eat the green part of tomatoes and green tomatoes. They have potent chemical toxic compounds named tomatine and solanine.
Tomatine can be found in the leaves and stems of the plant; therefore, puppies can have gastrointestinal health issues when they consume green tomatoes. Although, tomatine affects the dog’s health only if this veggie is consumed unripped. Otherwise, ripe red tomatoes contain only a small amount of them.
In case you grow tomatoes in your garden, your dog may accidentally get to the green portions of this veggie and potentially get tomatine poisoning. Therefore, the best idea is to fence your garden and keep your dog safe. However, as this veggie or fruit matures, the amount of tomatine in a tomato decreases.
On the other hand, solanine is another potentially toxic substance found in the green parts of tomatoes. However, to get poisoning from this substance, dogs have to ingest a large amount of the green parts. These are some of the most common side effects:
- Dilated pupils
- Hypersalivation
- Slow heart rate
- Lethargy
- Upset stomach
If you give your dog tomatoes, make sure it’s not in large doses. Small amounts are OK – they even have health benefits. It does not mean that you should be dumping marinara sauce into their bowl every day, but veggies are generally safe when appropriately dosed.
Tomato sauces come out in jars and contain many ingredients besides tomatoes like salt, garlic, sugar, onion, and even cheese. When you think about it, these ingredients are safe; however, a dog’s diet cannot contain them.
Also, sauces and ketchup packets may contain artificial sweetener xylitol which can be highly toxic for dogs, and the toxicity level will depend on the consumed amount.
For example, salt poisoning can occur from eating too much salt, and it will additionally make your puppy thirsty. The same stays for eating sugar in the long term in large quantities that may increase risks for diabetes and obesity.
The biggest problems here are onion and garlic, which come as garlic powder and onion powder in many tomato-based products, as well as in dog treats.
Garlic and onions are on the top of the most toxic human food list; therefore, try to resist those kind eyes and avoid feeding them with tomatoes.
What to Do if Your Dog Ate Pasta Sauce?
It’s unnecessary to give your dog tomatoes, especially unripe fresh tomatoes. Even if your dog eats only dog food, you’ll find your dog eating your leftovers from the floor sooner or later.
Therefore, if your dog ate a small amount of your spaghetti sauce or unripe tomatoes, don’t panic and act out of diligence. Read the ingredients list of the can or jar of sauce and ask for veterinary advice.
Canned tomatoes that come as sauces contain unwanted ingredients potentially harmful to dogs. They can lead to damage to the dog’s red blood cells, anemia, poor health, weakness, diarrhea, foul breath, vomiting, nausea, and can be life-threatening in extreme cases.
Contact your vet immediately if your dog consumed too much of your pasta sauce and shows any of these symptoms. Depending on the time that passed since your dog consumed tomato sauce and the severity of anemia, your vet may recommend medication, IV fluids, or blood transfusion.
Are you wondering if dogs eat tomatoes? Dogs eat everything you give them, so in case you want to surprise your puppy with “dog tomato sauce” learn how to feed tomatoes to your dog and how to cook this homemade sauce. First off, cut bite-sized pieces of tomatoes to avoid choking with this veggie in smaller dogs and heat them.
You can add any of the following herbs and spices that don’t do any harm to your dog’s diet:
- Peppermint
- Basil
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Dill
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Parsley
- Fennel
- Oregano
On the other hand, try not to use garlic, onions, salt, nutmeg, and black pepper. Start with adding a small amount alongside the dog food and observe how your dog reacts.
Contact a pet poison helpline if your dog shows some symptoms after eating tomatoes. After all, tomato plants contain several dangerous alkaloids that can be bad for dogs.
FAQ:
Summary
Dogs eat tomatoes or any other human food as long as they have it in front of them. However, be careful with pasta sauces based on this plant because of the added salt, sugar, and artificial sugar. Remember that human food should never be in more than 10% of dog food; therefore, feed your dog with tomatoes only as a special treat from time to time.
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*photo by sbolotova – depositphotos