Conditions apply
Can dogs eat tomatoes?
Ripe red tomato flesh is safe. Green unripe tomatoes and the leaves and stems of the plant contain solanine and should be avoided.
Signs to watch for
- drooling
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- wobbliness
- slow heart rate
What makes it harmful
Solanine and tomatine, in green parts
Glycoalkaloids concentrate in the leaves, stems and unripe fruit, and decline as the tomato ripens. Ripe red flesh contains very little.
How much matters
Large quantities of green plant material are required for serious signs.
How to prepare it
Ripe, red, plain, no stems or leaves.
Never in this form
Green tomatoes, leaves and stems. Tomato sauce and ketchup, which are high in salt, sugar, onion and garlic.
Portion
About 18 kcal per 100 g.
Also check for
- garden plants
- onion and garlic in sauces
How confident is this
established
Well established in the veterinary literature and consistent across sources.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Toxicology of Food-Associated Hazards
Further reading
Check another food
Informational only, and not a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and this page cannot account for your dog's age, size, health conditions or medication. If you are worried, phone a vet — that call is always the right call.