It is quite common to find your dog gobbling up the food you left uncovered. Not all human food is safe for dogs.
Among many foods that humans enjoy, there are many dogs that love to eat tomatoes. If you have cherry or grape tomato plants in your garden, you may be wondering if it’s safe for your dog to eat them.
Can dogs eat cherry & grape tomatoes?
Dogs can eat cherry and grape tomatoes, but only in moderation. For dogs, it’s not the size of the tomatoes but how they’re eating them and the quantity that matter. You shouldn’t let your dog eat green tomatoes and any other parts of the plant as that can lead to problems like stomach discomfort.
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But can dogs eat both of them. Let’s find out.
Cherry tomatoes:
Cherry tomatoes are small, round tomatoes almost shaped like cherries. They are quite popular for their cute size. These bite-sized tomatoes are considered an easy addition to salads and pasta recipes.
Cherry tomatoes are safe for dogs to consume as long as you watch over the quantity. Too much of any type of tomato can cause discomfort to your dog. But if you give them in moderation, tomatoes can be beneficial for your dog’s health.
Tomatoes are high in fiber which can be good for the digestive system. Also, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are beneficial for cell function and tissue growth.
Some dogs love the meaty and crunchy texture of cherry tomatoes. Also, these tomatoes have the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity that can be very tasty to eat.
Grape tomatoes:
Grape tomatoes are quite similar to cherry tomatoes, but they are a bit longer and oval-shaped, quite similar to grapes just as the name suggests. Many find it hard to distinguish between cherry and grape tomatoes as both are small and sweet.
Grape tomatoes are safe for dogs to eat. Same as cherry and other types of tomatoes, you should give your dog only the red and ripened grape tomatoes and not any other part of the plant.
If you consider the beneficial aspects of grape tomatoes, they are the same as cherry tomatoes.
Moderate consumption of both cherry and grape tomatoes can help boost the immune and digestive systems.
Because of their crunchy texture, dogs love to munch on them. It is better to allow your dog to eat grape tomatoes only as snacks.
Though the risk of tomato poisoning is quite rare, you wouldn’t want to do anything that can be harmful to your dog by any means. So you should occasionally give him some tomatoes to munch on.
Is it safe for dogs to eat cherry and grape tomatoes?
It is considered safe for dogs to eat both cherry and grape tomatoes. Tomatoes in general are not unsafe for dogs if given in moderation.
However, since both cherry and grape tomatoes are small, you should be careful to not let your dog gulp them down as this can cause sudden choking.
The leaves, roots, and any other green parts of tomato plants are unsafe for dogs. These are toxic to their digestive system and can cause stomach issues.
If you want to feed your dog cherry and grape tomatoes, make sure to give them only the red and ripened ones.
Also, to avoid the risk of choking, you can cut the tomatoes in half. If your dogs have trouble chewing the skin, you can mash them slightly.
How much cherry and grape tomatoes can a dog eat?
Both green and ripe tomatoes contain solanine and tomatine which are known to be toxic to dogs. But ripe tomatoes have very little solanine and tomatine.
Therefore, if you feed your dog ripe cherry and grape tomatoes in moderation, it shouldn’t affect their stomach.
It is considered safe to give your dog two cherry or grape tomatoes per week. Frequent consumption of tomatoes is not advised. Also, it may be safer to consult with your dog’s veterinarian beforehand to avoid any unwanted situation.
If your dog has any health complications, it is mandatory to consult with his vet before introducing any new food.
If you are planning to give your dog tomatoes for the first time, it may be wise to lessen the amount even more. This way, you can monitor his health and find out if he faces any problems because of eating tomatoes.
But remember, not all dogs are the same. If your dog shows any sign of discomfort after eating tomatoes, you should stop feeding him immediately and consult a veterinarian.
What happens if my dog eats cherry and grape tomatoes?
Occasional eating of a moderate amount of cherry and grape tomatoes should be fine unless your dog is already facing from gastrointestinal issues or has an allergy to tomatoes.
Even though tomato poisoning is very rare for dogs if your dog ends up eating too many tomatoes or accidentally eats the plant or the unripened ones, any of the following symptoms should be alarming and require a visit to the veterinarian.
Gastrointestinal issues:
Gastrointestinal issues like an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting can appear after eating too many tomatoes.
Loss of coordination:
Loss of coordination in a dog after feeding tomatoes is very alarming. If you find your dog stumbling or falling over while walking, it might be a sign of internal problems and inflammation.
Muscle weakness:
Another sign of tomato poisoning can be muscle weakness. The dog may look weak and find it difficult to walk properly.
Loss of appetite:
Due to stomach discomfort, your dog can refuse to eat anything. A loss of appetite in dogs can happen for many other reasons. It is often accompanied by abdominal pain.
Irregular heartbeats:
A sudden rise or drop of heartbeats in your dog can happen due to tomato poisoning. If you find your dog having irregular heartbeats, take him to a veterinarian immediately.
Some other signs of tomato poisoning can be lethargy, tremors, seizures, hyperventilation, and dilated pupils. Any of these symptoms can also be a sign of other problems.
Whatever may the case be, you should consult a veterinarian to ensure comfort for your precious pet.
How to prepare cherry and grape tomatoes for dogs?
To give your dogs grape and cherry tomatoes, you need to make sure you give them properly. Let’s get to know how you can feed them to your dogs.
Remove leaves, roots, and vines:
Both the green, unripened tomatoes and the green parts of tomato plants are unsafe to feed your dog.
So the first thing you should do is remove all the leaves, roots, and vines from the cherry or grape tomatoes. Make sure to choose only the red, ripened tomatoes.
Rinse the tomatoes well:
It is important to know where the tomatoes came from. If you produced them yourself, then it’s fine. But if you purchased them, they might have been sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.
You should try to get tomatoes that are free of these chemicals. Nonetheless, to be on the safer side, you should wash and clean the tomatoes with fresh water very well. This will help to get rid of any dirt and chemicals from them.
Cut the tomatoes in half:
Since there’s a risk of your dog gulping down the cherry or grape tomatoes without chewing properly, it will be better if you cut the tomatoes in half and then give it to the dog.
This way they will be the perfect bite size for your dog to eat without any problem.
Prepare the sauce, soup, or puree:
Some dog owners prefer feeding their dogs tomato as a puree, soup, or sauce. It is better to prepare these yourself so you will know what’s going on in the making.
Store-bought food can have ingredients and additives that are unsafe for dogs. When you prepare your dog’s food with tomatoes, don’t add salt, sugar, and any other spices that are unhealthy for dogs.
Keep an eye on the quantity:
You can’t just let your dog eat tomatoes in abundance. Even though ripe tomatoes are considered safe, too much of them can cause discomfort to your dog. Feeding them occasionally as a snack or treat should be fine.
Final Thoughts
Dogs can eat cherry and grape tomatoes but only the ripe ones and not any other parts of the plant. Also, you have to feed them in moderation. Frequent consumption of tomatoes can cause discomfort to your dog. It is considered safe to give your dog cherry and grape tomatoes occasionally as snacks.