table of contents
- Poisonous solanine
- Identify ripe tomatoes
- Basic rules for tomato diet
- Optimal: cooked and peeled
- Clarify health concerns
- Tomato plants near the dog
- Symptoms of poisoning
- Frequently asked question
Tomatoes are considered healthy because they contain many vitamins and minerals. But is it safe to put tomatoes in the dog bowl? One ingredient determines when the round fruits are "dog-friendly".
In a nutshell
- green tomatoes contain too much poisonous solanine
- Ripe tomatoes are tolerable and healthy in small quantities
- ideally cooked and peeled, but also raw or processed
- Not recommended for certain clinical pictures, tomato allergy is also possible
Poisonous solanine
During their growth, tomato fruits form a substance called solanine, among other things. This solanine is toxic not only to humans but also to dogs. That is why our four-legged friends are not allowed to eat tomatoes that contain solanine. The main risk of poisoning is green, even partially green, fruits. As the fruits ripen, the solanine is broken down and its concentration decreases. After all, ripe tomatoes contain little solanine. If the amount consumed is within a reasonable limit, the small remaining amount is considered harmless.
Identify ripe tomatoes
Fully ripe tomato fruits are not only harmless for dog nutrition, they are also healthy. Therefore, they can get a place on the dog menu. But the tomatoes fed must be fully ripe. You can recognize ripe tomatoes in your own garden by the fact that they are easy to harvest. In concrete terms, this means that the handle "breaks" effortlessly at the slightly thickened predetermined breaking point. Other characteristics of a really ripe tomato:
- it has taken on its typical mature color
- is depending on Variety of tomato, for example red, yellow or black
- has no green spots
- is soft, gives way to pressure
Note: A ripe tomato also has a green spot: the stalk. This should be cut out generously.
Basic rules for tomato diet
Even if ripe tomatoes hardly contain any solanine, a small amount of this substance remains in every fruit. As it is well known that the dose makes the poison, the dog must not get too many tomatoes at once. No general guideline value can be given here, as dogs can differ significantly in weight and size. It is advisable to start with a small amount of tomatoes, observe the dog, and then gradually adjust the amount. Otherwise, dogs are allowed to eat tomatoes raw and cooked. Various dishes with tomatoes can also be fed, provided that the other ingredients are allowed for dogs.
Optimal: cooked and peeled
Even if dogs are allowed to eat tomatoes raw, they are far more digestible when cooked. It is even better if they are peeled before feeding, as the peel is difficult to digest.
Tip: If tomatoes come from conventional cultivation, wash them thoroughly under running water for a particularly long time. This is the only way to remove any residues of chemical spraying agents almost completely.
Clarify health concerns
Healthy dogs will have no problem eating tomatoes. If a dog is sick, tomato feeding should be clarified with the veterinarian beforehand. There is a risk that existing gastrointestinal diseases, in particular, will worsen when eating tomatoes. The diagnosis of heartburn clearly speaks against tomato meals.
Tomato allergy
Some dogs can be allergic to tomatoes even if they are otherwise very healthy. After the first tomato meal, the pet should therefore be watched carefully. Symptoms of a possible allergy can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough and / or sneeze
- Swelling
- Hives
Tomato plants near the dog
Do you grow tomatoes in the garden or on the balcony and your dog can run around freely? Then caution is called for, because dogs are curious animals. Dogs may nibble on unripe tomatoes or tomato leaves that also contain solanine.
Tip: Play it safe and make tomato plants more difficult for your dog to access. For example, by fencing in or out the bed. keep the door of the greenhouse closed.
Symptoms of poisoning
It is always good to know the symptoms of solanine poisoning and, consequently, to recognize if the dog shows them again. Because depending on how high the amount of solanine absorbed, the consequences are by no means small. Here is an overview of the symptoms observed, which, however, do not have to occur all at the same time:
- confusion
- sleepiness
- Muscle twitching
- Muscle weakness
- Coordination problems
- Gastrointestinal problems
- diarrhea
Frequently asked question
It is basically possible to feed finished products. Make sure, however, that these contain neither salt nor sugar. Artificial flavors and colors should also be taboo, as they can damage the dog's health in the long term.
How a dog will react to the amount of solanine ingested cannot be precisely predicted. The severity of the poisoning depends, among other things, on factors such as general health, body size and the amount consumed. Don't risk anything by waiting. Better to see a veterinarian immediately.
Yes. However, you should be particularly careful here to ensure that it is a green tomato that is already ripe.
