Nothing tastes of summer quite like a juicy, sweet cherry tomato! These little salad fruits soak up every ray of sunshine to give them a delicious flavor, and they are packed full of nutritional benefits too. But can dogs eat cherry tomatoes, or are they toxic to dogs?
Can dogs eat cherry tomatoes?
In some situations, dogs can eat tomatoes, but there are risks associated with feeding tomatoes to dogs. It would be sensible to avoid feeding tomatoes to dogs and stick to safer snacks like bell peppers instead.
Cherry tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of plants, along with potatoes. The tomato plants themselves are highly toxic to dogs. as are unripe green cherry tomatoes. This is because they contain substances that are toxic to dogs; solanine and tomatine.
Dogs should never be fed green, unripe cherry tomatoes, and they should never be allowed to eat the leaves or stems of tomato plants. When ripe, tomatoes are not toxic to dogs, but their high acidity levels can cause gastrointestinal problems.
What are the signs of toxicity?
There are two toxins associated with dogs eating unripe tomatoes – solanine and tomatine. These affect the gastrointestinal and neurological systems of dogs, and may cause the following symptoms:
- Inappetence
- Wobbliness and a loss of coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Excessive salivation
- Muscle tremors and seizures
- Dilated pupils
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Fast, irregular heartbeat
- Vomiting and diarrhea
What to do if my dog ate cherry tomatoes?
If your dog has eaten just a few ripe cherry tomatoes, the risk of problems is relatively low. Ripe tomatoes are not toxic to dogs, but their high acidity levels can cause a mild stomach upset. The more tomatoes your dog has eaten, the more likely this is to happen.
However, if your dog has eaten green tomatoes, the risk of toxicity is far higher. One or two small green cherry tomatoes may not be enough to cause a problem, but you should monitor your pooch carefully for any signs of toxicity.
In a situation where a dog has eaten a large number of green tomatoes or part of a tomato plant, you should seek the advice of your veterinary clinic immediately. With rapid treatment, most dogs make a full recovery from solanine and tomatine toxicity.
If it is only a short period since your dog ate the tomatoes, your veterinarian may be able to give your dog medication to induce vomiting. Never attempt to induce vomiting unless advised to by your veterinarian, as you could cause more harm than good.
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