When it comes to allowing your german-shepherd to eat the regular fruits and vegetables that are available in your house, one vegetable, which is a fruit, that comes to mind is tomatoes! Can german shepherds safely eat tomatoes? The answer revolves around yes and no. And this article will be explaining why.
The consensus on this amongst scientists is that ripe tomatoes are completely safe for german shepherds. However, unripe tomatoes and tomato stems, etc. can be serious toxins for your canine. So while you can feed your dog tomatoes, do not think that you can feed tomato scraps and unripe tomatoes to them as well.
To have a better understanding of this and decide specifically for your german-shepherd, you need to analyze both; the good and the bad side. If you are still not sure about tomatoes being a part of your dog’s diet and need a detailed account of whether german shepherds can consume tomatoes or not, you are at the right spot!
Firstly, we will be starting with which parts of tomatoes are safe for a german shepherd to consume.
Which part of tomatoes can german shepherds eat?
German shepherds can eat ripe tomatoes and experience little to no side effects; however, certain parts should be banned for german shepherds. Your german-shepherd should not consume the tomato plant as it is not safe. This includes the stem, leaves, roots, and unripe tomatoes.
Tomato plants (the branches, leaves, and roots) carry much more tomatine than in the fruit, putting your dog at risk of poisoning if they consume any of the plants you’re producing.
Similarly, unripe tomatoes have a higher concentration of tomatine than ripe tomatoes, while it is still a modest proportion. To get tomatine poisoning, most dogs would have to consume a lot of premature tomatoes and plants (imagine eating your entire tomato garden). Way before animals achieved a high enough quantity to be poisoned, they’d likely have stomach distress by eating so much fiber and natural carbohydrates.
Even so, it’s advisable to keep your canine and tomato plants apart if you’re worried he’ll eat them when nobody’s looking.
Now that you are aware of the indefinite safe parts of tomatoes for your german-shepherd, it becomes even more important to know about the advantages and disadvantages of tomato consumption.
Benefits of tomatoes for german shepherds
Tomatoes include a high level of beta carotene, lycopene, and Vitamin C, which can assist your dog’s health in various ways. Tomatoes also have a low-calorie count and a high fiber content, which might aid indigestion. Tomatoes also have a high content of nutrients like folate & potassium, which support muscular health. Here’s a deeper look at a few of the tomato’s health-promoting compounds.
The lycopene content of tomatoes is beneficial.
This is a strong antioxidant that kills cancer cells, boosts eye health, and aid in skin & coat health. One of the main advantages of feeding tomatoes to dogs is high lycopene. Hence giving tomatoes to your german-shepherd as a treat becomes even more tempting!
Tomatoes have beta carotene.
This is the red-orange pigment that gives ripe tomatoes their vibrant color. Beta carotene is used by the German shepherd’s body to make vitamin A and has a lot of eye and skin health control. Tomatoes have a good quantity of this nutrient which is why they become a perfect fruit for your canine.
Tomatoes also have a good amount of vitamin C in them.
This is another potent antioxidant and vitamin that can help your dog’s immune system. Vitamin C is a substance that canines with certain malignancies and weak immune systems would benefit from, while it is not required in their diet.
German shepherds love to stay outdoors, where they contact many viruses. Many of these germs could compromise your german shepherd’s health, so make sure to strengthen its immunity with vitamin C from tomatoes.
All of this makes tomatoes a perfect type of fruit. But is it that good? As we said in the beginning, tomatoes are both good and bad. So to further analyze whether tomatoes are safe for your dog or not, we will be discussing the risks associated with the consumption of tomatoes.
Are there any risks associated with tomato consumption for german shepherds?
Tomatoes are one of the members of the nightshade vegetable family (known as Solanaceae). They include alpha tomatine and solanine, 2 poisonous chemicals found in eggplants and green potatoes, as well as other nightshade vegetables. The green sections of the plant, such as the leaves, vines, and stems, have the highest quantities of solanine.
Even if the tomatoes are ripe, your four-legged buddy may be allergic to them, like other foods that humans eat. Stop eating your pet tomato and consult your veterinarian if you experience symptoms like sneezing, hives, coughing, diarrhea, itching rashes, or gas.
An allergic reaction can occasionally develop into anaphylaxis, a possibly deadly illness. Swelling, difficulty breathing, and hives are all signs that show the possibility of a very serious allergic response and should get checked by a professional vet.
Tomatoes may aggravate medical disorders in some dogs, such as gastrointestinal problems and acid reflux. That is why, before feeding your pet any people foods, you should visit your veterinarian.
When the tomato is unripe and green, it contains a lot of solanine. Because the amounts of solanine in tomatoes reduce rapidly as they ripen, your dog can easily consume cherry tomatoes but should avoid green ones. If you own a tomato plant in your home or backyard, be especially cautious because your pet may eat the deadly green bits.
So are tomatoes safe for your german-shepherd?
Solanine, a chemical found in the nightshade family, is extremely toxic to horses, goats, and other animals. Fortunately, German shepherds do not get a toxic reaction from solanine unless they are given huge amounts. Like the stem and leaves, the green components of a tomato plant contain the most solanine.
The ripe tomato contains some solanine, but it’s in such a little amount that it’s normally acceptable for dogs to eat in small amounts.
Tomato poisoning, also known as tomatine toxicity, can occur when significant portions of the stems or leaves are offered to dogs. Muscle weakness, allergic response, drooling, breathing difficulties, and loss of coordination are all symptoms of tomatine poisoning. If your dog swallows any green bits of the tomatoes and exhibits these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Dogs with kidney problems or arthritis should also avoid tomatoes. Tomatoes include oxalates (a plant-derived organic acid), which are toxic to dogs with kidney damage. Tomatoes should not be fed to german shepherds who have arthritis, as food from the family of plants has been known to aggravate arthritis symptoms.
Overall, the green portions of the tomato crop (leaves and stems) should be avoided because they are toxic to dogs. Also, stay away from green and unripe tomatoes and stick to red ones. Since it contains additional additives and preservatives, tomato sauce is another item to avoid giving your dog.
Ketchup is the same way – it contains much too much sugar, chemicals, and preservatives to be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet. You can give your dog pure tomato paste in tiny amounts, and it can help with some health concerns that require more lycopene inside the diet, which we’ll go into later. It’s important to feed tomatoes or tomato sauce to dogs in minimal amounts.
Signs of tomatine poisoning
Now that you know that the tomatine component of tomatoes could lead to poisoning in german shepherds, you should watch out for the following signs.
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Dilated pupils
- Abnormal heart rate
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Excessive salivation
If you notice that your german-shepherd is suffering from any of the above symptoms of tomatine poisoning, rush to the E.R and contact your veterinarian right away! But there are certain methods that you can employ at home as well. One of these things is to induce poisoning to extract all the harmful tomato content.
Professional treatment for tomatine poisoning
Take your german-shepherd to the vet straight away if you see any of the symptoms mentioned above of tomato poisoning. Your veterinarian will examine your pet & determine whether the vomiting is safe and necessary. This should be done in a veterinary practice where your pet could be closely observed.
Your veterinarian may also offer extra therapies, such as intravenous fluids, to assist your pet’s body in flushing out toxins and treating dehydration, especially if they have diarrhea or vomiting.
Tomato toxicity in dogs is uncommon, and the prognosis for healing is favorable. The clinical indicators listed above can also indicate other major health conditions, so if your pet exhibits any of these signs, you must always contact your veterinarian.
Now that you have all the information about tomato consumption and german shepherds, you may want to feed tomatoes to your canine occasionally. But before making this decision, contact your veterinarian and read about the safe way of feeding tomatoes to your dog below.
How to safely feed tomatoes to your german shepherd?
If your physician says your dog may eat tomatoes, choose ripe, red tomatoes with the leaves, stems, and vines removed.
Rinse the tomato thoroughly, especially if it isn’t organic, as non-organic produce contains pesticides that can leave your canine sick. Serve the tomato to your pet raw, without any salt or other additives.
Check the list of ingredients of any tomato-based product you offer your dog, such as soup or sauce, for potentially dangerous additives. It is always preferable to use fresh tomatoes that have been prepared at home.
If you have pot plants of tomatoes, make sure your pet can’t get to them and consume any immature tomatoes or plant green bits. If you’ve decided to keep a tomato plant inside, make sure it’s in a pot that’s not touching the ground. Suppose you’re planting tomatoes in your yard, set up a fence around them.
If your dog continues to reach the tomato plants, consult with your veterinarian. Keep an eye out for the signs listed above, and contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
Can german shepherds consume cherry tomatoes?
Tomatoes come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from grapes to cherry and everything in between. But, in terms of toxicity, are these variants more or less harmful to your pet?
No, that is not the case. Grape tomato, cherry tomato, beefsteak tomato, and other types are okay for dogs to eat in moderation if they are red and ripe with the green sections (stems and leaves) removed.
Can you feed canned tomato varieties to your canine?
The salt content in canned tomatoes is extremely high. This might cause dehydration if consumed in high quantities. Fresh, ripe tomatoes are preferable. If your dog eats fresh tomatoes, look for signs like frequent urination, increased urination, fever, appetite loss, and nausea.
You should not feed your pet sun-dried tomatoes if they contain other ingredients (such as garlic and onion). You could either add either one three coarsely diced pieces to your dog’s food or feed them straight from the jar if there are no dangerous elements. However, you should only feed a tiny amount at a time. Unless your veterinarian advises differently, 1-two sets every other day will suffice.
Can german shepherds eat ketchup and other tomato pastes?
If your dog enjoys eating tomatoes, bear in mind whether they might be interested in the pizza piece or spaghetti you’re eating. Because of the extra salt and sugar and any artificial flavors or other chemicals, canned tomatoes, ketchup, soup, or juices aren’t particularly good for dogs. Tiny quantities of tomato-based items like sauce, on the other hand, are unlikely to harm your dog.
Final thoughts
Tomatoes can turn out to be good or bad, at the same time, for your german-shepherd if you feed it in the wrong way. Read the following key takeaway points carefully before feeding your canine tomatoes.
- Dogs can eat red, ripe tomatoes in limited amounts and on occasion, but they are not advised as a frequent treat.
- Because unripened green tomatoes contain hazardous components, you should never give them to your pet.
- Call your dog’s veterinarian if you think that your german-shepherd has consumed unripe tomatoes or the plant’s green portions and is exhibiting symptoms of tomato toxicity.
If you are still unsure, contact your vet for a detailed discussion over your german shepherd’s specific condition and whether tomatoes could be safe in that. Lastly, tomatoes are a great snack for times when your dog’s food has finished, and you do not have the time to go to the grocery store. So you can feed it to them, with care and in moderation!
