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If you get online regarding feeding dogs tomatoes, you’ll get mixed opinions. Some say that you should never give your dog any tomatoes, despite their ripeness, while others claim that ripe tomatoes can be okay in moderation. Ultimately, you should always ask your vet for advice about these sorts of issues, but for most dogs small amounts of ripe tomatoes are considered safe.
But when it comes to the tomato plant, it is mildly toxic to dogs, including the leaves, stems, and unripe tomatoes. While it likely won’t kill your dog to munch on a tomato plant, it can cause gastrointestinal upset and other issues. Here’s everything you need to know.
Tomato Plants Are Toxic to Dogs
When it comes to certain plants, dogs can have a poor reaction if they eat them, sometimes leading to death in certain circumstances.
Tomato plants are part of the nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical called solanine that is toxic to dogs. Solanine is a glycoalkaloid poison that is found in other vegetables as well including potatoes and eggplants, especially when unripe.
Tomato plants also contain a chemical called tomatine, which is also a glycoalkaloid. The green parts of the plant, meaning the leaves, stems, and unripe tomatoes, contain more solanine and tomatine than ripe tomatoes. This is why you’ll hear people say that dogs can eat ripe tomatoes, but they shouldn’t eat any unripe tomatoes or other parts of the tomato plant.
What Is Tomato Poisoning?
Tomato poisoning can occur when a dog consumes a large quantity of tomatoes, particularly the green leaves, stems, and unripe fruits. This can cause gastrointestinal upset that can vary from mild to severe, depending on the size of your dog and how much they ate, and can lead to a vet visit pretty quickly. In severe cases of poisoning, neurological and cardiac signs can also be seen.
Signs of Tomato Poisoning
- Hypersalivation
- Appetite loss
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Dilated pupils
- Abnormal heart rate
- Behavioral changes
Again, a dog’s signs can range from mild to severe depending on the part of the tomato plant they ate and how much they consumed relative to their size.
When to See a Vet
If you think your dog consumed unripened tomatoes, green parts of a tomato plant, or is showing any concerning signs, then it’s time to contact your vet. Even though a small amount will be unlikely to cause much damage, large quantities of the green parts can cause some serious gastrointestinal upset and other issues which require treatment. If you have a small dog or a puppy it will take a smaller amount to result in toxicity. It’s always best to seek veterinary advice sooner rather than later if you are concerned.
Ripe tomatoes contain very little solanine and tomatine and your dog would need to eat a very large amount to experience toxic effects from these compounds. However dogs can still suffer from an upset stomach after eating them particularly because of their acidity.
Diagnosis and Recovery
Most of the time, you will know if your dog got into a tomato plant. If they have just ingested a small amount then you will usually be able monitor them closely at home for any concerning signs that might occur.
Once you take your dog to the vet, they will assess them and the signs they are showing and determine if it is safe and appropriate to induce vomiting. It’s important to bear in mind that tomato poisoning is rare and the above signs can be seen with many other health issues as well.
Your vet may also recommend supportive care such as fluid therapy. Overall, the prognosis for a full recovery is good.
Growing Tomato Plants
If you are growing tomato plants in or around your garden space, it is important to restrict your dog’s access. There are tons of flowers and other plants that can cause some major gastrointestinal issues in dogs if they are ingested.
It is a good idea to put fencing or another barrier up to protect your dog from these nightshade plants. The best solution to dogs eating tomato plants is to prevent this situation from happening in the first place.
Conclusion
Now you understand that tomato plants are toxic to dogs, even if it’s just mildly so. Some dogs have a worse reaction than others and it greatly depends on what part of the plant that the dog ate and how much.
If you think your dog has consumed green parts of the tomato plant, or they are showing any concerning signs then contact your vet straight away. While severe poisoning is rare, it can still make your dog very sick, and you can alleviate a lot of the trouble by getting them the treatment that they need.
Featured Image Credit: planet_fox, Pixabay
