
Dogs eating green tomatoes can be toxic because they contain a compound called solanine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in canines.
Green tomatoes are particularly high in solanine, making them a more significant risk for your furry friend.
If your dog ingests a green tomato, it's essential to monitor their behavior closely for signs of solanine poisoning, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing.
Readers also liked: Dogs Eating Green Beans
The Dose Makes the Poison
The severity of symptoms in dogs eating green tomatoes depends on several factors. The size and breed of your dog, as well as the amount of plant ingested, will determine the severity of the symptoms.
A small ingestion of tomato plant leaves and green tomatoes can cause gastrointestinal irritation, but larger ingestions can be more serious. Larger ingestions can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, depression, and increased heart rate.
The amount of tomatine in the plant also plays a role in the severity of symptoms. Tomatine levels are higher in unripe tomatoes, stems, and leaves than in ripe tomatoes.
For another approach, see: Dogs Eating Green Peppers
Puppies and older dogs are more susceptible to tomatine poisoning, so it's essential to keep a close eye on them if you have a garden.
Here's a rough guide to the potential effects of different amounts of tomatine ingestion:
Remember, prevention is the best medicine! Fencing in your garden and keeping your dog out of the area is your best course of action.
Potential Harm
Dogs eating green tomatoes can cause unpleasant effects, including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy.
These symptoms can be a sign that your dog has ingested the leaves and stems of the tomato plant, which contain the toxic compounds solanine and tomatine.
If your dog has eaten a significant amount of the plant, they may even show signs of toxicity, which can be more serious.
Keep in mind that if your tomato plant has been treated with weed killer or fertilizer, the situation could be even more serious.
In most cases, a small ingestion of tomato plant leaves and green tomatoes will cause gastro-intestinal irritation in dogs.
Larger ingestions can be more serious, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, depression, and increased heart-rate.
Fencing in your garden and keeping your dog out of the area is a good preventive measure to take, as it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Prevention and Response
If your dog eats an unripe tomato or the leaves of a tomato plant, they can get very sick. Unripe tomatoes contain tomatine, which is toxic for dogs to consume in large quantities.
To prevent this, keep a close eye on your dog when they're in the garden, and make sure they don't eat any green tomatoes or leaves. If you catch them in the act, distract them with a treat or toy to redirect their attention.
If you notice your dog exhibiting symptoms like gastrointestinal upset, loss of coordination, loss of appetite, or muscle weakness, bring them to the vet immediately.
Intriguing read: Dogs Eating Tomatoes
When Should Avoid

Dogs should avoid eating tomatoes that aren't ripe, as they can cause digestive issues.
Before feeding your dog tomatoes, it's a good idea to bring them to the vet to check for any food allergies, as some dogs can have negative reactions to new foods.
Dogs should also steer clear of tomato plants, as they contain tomatine, which is toxic to them.
If you see your dog eating tomato plants, it's essential to call your vet immediately, as this can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and even seizures.
If your dog has any negative reaction to eating tomatoes, such as vomiting or diarrhea, bring them to the vet right away.
If this caught your attention, see: Vet Dogs Dog Treats
What If a Dog Eats?
If a dog eats a tomato, they can get very sick. Unripe tomatoes contain tomatine, which is toxic for dogs to consume in large quantities.
Dogs that eat unripe tomatoes may experience gastrointestinal upset, loss of coordination, loss of appetite, and muscle weakness. If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms, bring them to the vet immediately.
If a dog eats the leaves of a tomato plant, they can get very sick too. This is because the leaves also contain tomatine, which is toxic for dogs.
Symptoms of tomatine poisoning in dogs can be severe, so it's essential to act quickly if you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic. Bring your dog to the vet immediately if you notice any unusual behavior.
Understanding Plant Toxicity
Tomato plants are a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which contains over 3000 species, including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplants, ground cherries, and tomatillos.
These plants are considered toxic, and immature fruit that hasn't yet ripened contains the highest concentrations of toxins.
Ripe fruit is typically non-toxic, but green tomatoes and the vines of tomato plants should be avoided.
The toxins solanine and tomatine are found in the leaves, stems, and unripe green tomatoes of tomato plants.
If your dog ingests these toxins, they can experience gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, depression, and increased heart rate.
You might like: Dogs Eating Fruit
The severity of symptoms depends on the size and breed of your dog, as well as the amount of plant ingested.
In most cases, small ingestions can cause mild symptoms, but larger ingestions can be more serious and require immediate veterinary attention.
Prevention is the best medicine, and fencing in your garden can help keep your dog safe from tomato plants.
If your pet has an exposure to a tomato plant or other potentially harmful plant, there are resources available 24/7 to assist you in evaluating the exposure and recommending the best course of action.
Tomatine Poisoning
Tomatine Poisoning is a serious concern for dog owners, especially if they have a garden with tomato plants.
Tomatine is a toxic compound found in unripe tomatoes, tomato leaves, and stems. If your dog consumes these in large quantities, they can experience a range of symptoms.
Puppies and older dogs are more susceptible to tomatine poisoning, so it's crucial to be extra cautious with them if you have a garden.
Some common symptoms of tomatine poisoning in dogs include diarrhea, vomiting, loss of coordination, and muscle weakness.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, bring them to the vet immediately for treatment.
Here are some potential symptoms of tomatine poisoning in dogs:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle weakness
- Hypersalivation
- Dilated pupils
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Cardiac effects
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to eat green tomatoes?
Yes, it is safe to eat green tomatoes, but cooking them is recommended to reduce the naturally occurring substance Solanina, which can be toxic in high amounts. Cooking green tomatoes can help break down Solanina, making them a safe and healthy addition to your diet.
Sources
- https://greg.app/tomato-plant-toxic-to-dogs/
- https://thevets.com/blog/can-dogs-eat-tomatoes/
- https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-nutrition/what-can-dogs-eat/can-dogs-eat-tomatoes
- https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/tomato-toxicity-need-know/
- https://www.dutch.com/blogs/dogs/can-dogs-eat-tomatoes
Featured Images: pexels.com