All dog owners want to provide their pup with the best health and life that they can. Part of this is knowing what to feed your dog and what to stay away from. With so many pet foods, treats, and other products on the market, narrowing down which ones are the best can prove to be difficult. Thankfully, with some guidance and education, you can learn what foods are worth your while when it comes to nutrition and price.
Aside from dog-specific foods and products, there is an abundance of human foods that dogs can enjoy in a safe and healthy way. While many human foods are safe for dogs, certain ones need to be avoided. When feeding your dog human food, you must be aware of the ones that are safe and the ones that come with risk. Many dog foods contain an abundance of foods that humans also eat, such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, and various grains, vegetables, and fruits. Aside from these foods being used as ingredients, it’s a good idea to incorporate them into your dog’s diet in other ways.
So, when it comes to feeding your dog human food, what foods are safe, and which ones should you avoid? Can dogs eat tomatoes? What about other fruits and vegetables? We’ll go over all of the basics when it comes to feeding your dog tomatoes, including how to do so, what’s safe and what isn’t, and other things to consider. Knowing the basics of dogs and tomatoes will help you feel confident as an owner when introducing new foods into your pup’s diet.
Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
The next time you are enjoying a delicious turkey sandwich, topped with tomatoes and lettuce, you may have a little leftover that you want to share with your dog. This may cause you to think: can dogs eat tomatoes? Ensuring that food is safe to feed your dog before offering it to them is necessary. Failure to do so may result in a dangerous situation for your pup.
In short, dogs can eat tomatoes, but only in small amounts. Ripe tomatoes are not toxic to dogs and can be a great snack for them to enjoy, but it’s important to know all of the details when it comes to feeding dogs tomatoes. Failure to do so can be very dangerous for your dog.
While ripe tomatoes are not toxic for dogs, parts of the tomato plant itself are. All green parts of a tomato plant are toxic for dogs and should not be consumed. This means that tomato leaves, tomato stems, and green, unripe tomatoes are not safe for your dog. If you are feeding your dog tomatoes, be sure to remove all green parts of the plant before offering them any of these snacks. Removing all green parts of tomatoes will ensure that your dog is safe from tomato poisoning.
Once all unsafe parts of your tomato have been removed, your dog can chow down on some delicious tomato. In doing so they will be getting some extra nutrition without you needing to worry about if this fruit is safe for them. Just remember that red, ripe tomatoes are safe, and all green tomatoes and green parts are not.
How Many Tomatoes Can My Dog Eat?
As with any food, tomatoes are best when given in proper amounts. Too many tomatoes can put your dog at risk for an upset stomach. Tomatoes are very acidic, and too many acid foods can be a cause of gastrointestinal issues. In addition, a large number of tomatoes can put your dog at risk for tomato poisoning. To avoid these issues, it’s best to only give your dog a small number of tomatoes at once.
Many factors dictate just how many tomatoes your dog can handle at once. Size, breed, and health conditions may impact their ability to consume tomatoes. For example, a smaller breed dog, such as a Shih Tzu, can’t handle as many tomatoes at once as a larger breed, such as a Cane Corso, can. Larger breed dogs are likely to be able to eat one or two grape tomatoes or tomato slices, while smaller breeds are likely better off with half a grape tomato or tomato slice to begin with.
After introducing tomatoes slowly into your dog’s diet in a small amount, you can increase the amount they eat. Some dogs may not like tomatoes, and that’s okay! The flavor and texture isn’t for everyone, and your dog can easily get the health benefits of tomatoes from other fruits and vegetables.
As with all fruits that are safe for dogs, tomatoes should not be offered at more than a 10% ratio to your dog’s regular dog food. Any larger amount of fruit in their diet can cause problems with digestion and even obesity. Even at 10% of your dog’s diet, tomatoes contain a high amount of acid, so it’s best to feed your dog smaller quantities of tomatoes rather than a large quantity.
How To Feed Your Dog Tomatoes
Tomatoes must be fed properly to your dog to avoid health issues. Fresh tomatoes are the best way to introduce this fruit into your dog’s diet. While canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato soup are delicious, they may contain additives, such as sugar. Sugar is very dangerous for dogs and must be avoided by dog owners. Too much sugar can lead to issues such as diabetes, which no dog wants to experience. So, when feeding your dog tomatoes, be sure to stick with fresh grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, or other sizes of tomatoes, rather than any canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, or tomato soup.
When feeding your dog fresh tomatoes, you must ensure that you have removed all green parts of the plant. Tomato leaves, stems, and unripe tomatoes are extremely hazardous for your dog and can lead to tomato poisoning. To avoid this, simply remove any green parts of the fruit before serving. In doing so, you will be providing your dog with a delicious snack that has plenty of health benefits. Tomatoes should never be fed as a whole fruit to your dog. Always slice or half tomatoes before feeding them to your dog, no matter the size. This will help avoid choking and possible digestive blockage.
One fun way to feed your dog tomatoes is through a dog salad. To make this, simply mix some dog-safe fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, pineapple, tomatoes, and potatoes into a bowl and serve.
In addition to dog salads, tomatoes can be frozen and fed as a cool, refreshing treat on hot summer days. This is a great way to keep your dog from becoming dehydrated during these warmer months and get some extra nutrients in.
Dog puzzle toys have become extremely popular, with good reason. These fun and engaging toys mentally stimulate your dog and challenge them as they attempt to reach a treat. Puzzle toys can prevent various conditions such as anxiety, separation anxiety, and canine dementia when used effectively. To use a puzzle toy with tomatoes, simply stuff a slice of tomato inside of the puzzle toy and let your dog work to get it.
Health Benefits Of Feeding Dogs Tomatoes
While tomatoes are a delicious snack for your dog to enjoy, they also have various health benefits. This is why they are commonly used as an ingredient in dog food and dog treats. They are tasty, nutritious, and easy to eat for your pup.
When worrying about nutrition for your dog, the ultimate goal is to keep your pup as healthy as you possibly can. Thanks to all of the various vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that tomatoes have, your dog will be feeling great when they get to snack on them.
Fiber
One of the most important parts of overall health for your dog is digestive health. A large part of the immune system is housed within the gut, and without a healthy gut, the immune system can’t function properly. This can lead to your dog being more at risk for developing viruses, infections, and other illnesses.
To avoid an unhealthy gut, it’s important to make sure that your dog is eating enough fiber. Fiber is fermented into fatty acid by the beneficial bacteria that are housed in your dog’s gut. This fatty acid helps prevent any overgrowth of unwanted types of bacteria and also assists the colon in recovery. Without adequate fiber, your dog can be at risk for some serious gut discomfort and other issues. Be sure to consider feeding your dog tomatoes if you are looking for a way to sneak some extra fiber into their diet.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are very well regarded in society, and fruits like pineapple have plenty of them. Dogs are regularly exposed to more toxins than humans are, which makes regular antioxidant consumption extremely important. Antioxidants boost the immune-cell function for older dogs, as well as slow down the aging process of cellular molecules. They can help draw toxins out of your dog’s system and repair the damage that they might have caused. Thankfully, tomatoes are known to be full of antioxidants.
Potassium
While vitamins and nutrients are important for a canine diet, so are electrolytes. Potassium is an essential electrolyte that aids the functioning of electrical charges within the heart, nerves, and muscles. This makes potassium a superhero electrolyte that your dog’s body greatly depends on.
Potassium must be abundant in your dog’s body to avoid possible health issues. A dog who is deficient in potassium may experience a variety of symptoms, including lethargy and a decrease in appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, be sure to mention this to your vet. To avoid potassium deficiency, consider feeding your dog tomatoes and other fruits that are rich in this mineral.
Vitamin A
There are a lot of different vitamins that your dog’s body relies on to function properly. Out of all of them, vitamin A is one of the most important. Vitamin A plays many roles in the health of your pup, including keeping eyes and skin healthy, forming organs and structures of growing animals such as puppies, and immune functioning. Without enough vitamin A, your dog may be at risk for various health issues. Consider letting your dog snack on tomatoes to ensure that they are getting enough vitamin A.
Vitamin K
Along with vitamin A, vitamin K is another important part of your dog’s diet. Vitamin K is abundant in tomatoes and has a few great health benefits. In your dog’s diet, vitamin K is used to metabolize calcium into the bones, which prevents calcium deposits in the heart, arteries, and other muscles. Vitamin K also promotes healthy blood clotting, which prevents excessive bleeding after surgery or injury. To make sure that your dog is getting enough vitamin K, consider adding tomatoes to their diet.
Vitamin B9
Out of all the vitamins that your dog needs, vitamin B9 is one of the most important. Also known as folate, vitamin B9 is responsible for an abundance of things in your dog’s body. Controlling blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine is one of the responsibilities of vitamin B9. In addition, folate is important in normal blood formation, tissue growth, cell division, and immune function. Thankfully, your dog can get all of the folates that they need through a delicious tomato.
Vitamin C
All owners want to keep their dogs from getting sick. Whether it’s a small cold or serious health condition, we will do anything to help our dogs remain healthy. One of the best ways to do so is by ensuring that your dog gets enough vitamin C, which tomatoes have plenty of.
Another perk of the vitamin C that tomatoes have to offer is that this vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, which can be great for combating various health conditions such as hip dysplasia, as well as enhancing other areas of overall health, such as joint and skin health. Some experts believe that vitamin C can help clean your dog’s stomach if they accidentally get a hold of toxic foods.
While dogs do create vitamin C on their own, it can be difficult for the liver to synthesize on its own if your dog performs high-energy physical activities or is experiencing frequent stress. Adding tomatoes to their diet is a great way to make sure they are as healthy as possible.
Everything You Need To Know About Tomato Poisoning
Tomato poisoning is a very serious condition that must be considered when feeding your dog tomatoes. Knowing the signs and symptoms of tomato poisoning is a great way to ensure that your dog gets prompt medical care if this condition does arise.
Some of the most common symptoms of tomato poisoning include loss of coordination, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, tremors, excess saliva, lethargy, abdominal pain, seizures, irregular heartbeat, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, quit feeding them tomatoes immediately and contact your vet. They will be able to diagnose this condition and decide on proper treatment.
To diagnose tomato poisoning, your veterinarian will do a full physical examination of your dog, as well as bloodwork or an ECG. If your dog does have tomato poisoning, your vet may induce vomiting or simply monitor them.
Thankfully, tomato poisoning is very rare and typically isn’t fatal. For most dogs who experience tomato poisoning, they will go on to make a full recovery. In addition to tomato poisoning, some dogs may be allergic to tomatoes, though this is rare. If your dog is allergic to tomatoes, they may experience coughing, hives, wheezing, and breathing difficulties after eating them. If you notice any odd behaviors or symptoms in your dog after eating tomatoes, discontinue feeding your dog this fruit and contact your vet.
Wrapping Up
All dog owners want to keep their dogs as healthy as possible. To do so, you may consider what foods you can feed your dogs safely, and which ones have the most health benefits. Tomatoes are a great fruit that many dogs love and have some awesome health perks.
Antioxidants, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals can all be obtained through eating tomatoes. When feeding your dog tomatoes, it’s important that you do so properly. Never feed your dog tomato sauce, tomato soup, or canned tomatoes, as they can have added ingredients that aren’t safe. Focus on feeding your dog fresh tomatoes that have been fully ripened and had all leaves and stems removed. Ensuring that tomatoes are properly prepared can ensure that your dog isn’t at risk for tomato poisoning after eating this delicious fruit.
Not all dogs will like tomatoes, while others may love them. Be sure to do what’s best for you and your dog when it comes to introducing new human foods into their diet. With some trial and error, you can introduce tomatoes and other healthy fruits into your dog’s life for them to enjoy.
