Can Bulldogs Eat Tomatoes? (Ripe Tomatoes Only!)

Yes, bulldogs can eat tomatoes, but only the ripe ones. Tomatoes should be safe for bulldogs, and they can be a nutritious food for them, but only when you offer the ripe ones. Unripe tomatoes can be highly toxic for bulldogs and other pets. When feeding such, only choose the ripe ones and avoid including any of the green tops.

Tomatoes can be quite nutritious for your bulldog. However, feeding it can be a little bit tricky as well.

For this reason, you may want to know more information to help you before feeding some to your dog.

Let’s get into it more!

Can tomatoes hurt my bulldog?

Tomatoes can hurt your bulldog, but only the unripe ones. As long as it is ripe and red, it should be safe for your pet to eat.

Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables. As such, they contain components that are toxic to dogs and other pets and animals. One known toxic component is solanine.

According to NCBI, solanine is a substance found in the tomatoes’ stems leaves. In large quantities, it can be quite harmful to all dogs.

The solanine in tomatoes is mostly in the stems, leaves, and the green parts. 

Thus, green tomatoes contain solanine, while the ripe ones are generally safe.

The problem arises if you have a tomato plant nearby and that your dog has access to it.

If you find yourself having one, it would be best to keep the plant out of your dog’s reach.

As long as you feed only the red tomatoes in moderation, your dog should be alright.

Are cooked tomatoes okay for dogs?

Cooked tomatoes are safe for dogs as much as the ripe ones are. If you have leftover tomatoes, you can spare some for your pet, and it shouldn’t cause any issues.

Other tomatoes are even a common ingredient in many dog foods. 

This ingredient is the tomato pomace, which comes from the ripe fruit. It includes skin, pulp, and seeds. 

For this reason, you shouldn’t worry so much about feeding cooked tomato to your pet.

As long as the tomato is ripe and has no green parts, it should be completely safe to feed.

Still, you may want to keep the tomatoes feeding in moderation. Although the ripe ones are safe for them, it’s not something you should provide in large amounts.

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What happens when a bulldog eats tomatoes?

tomatoes

If your dog eats the ripe tomatoes, it shouldn’t cause any issues. Instead, your dog may even enjoy loads of nutrition from it.

However, if your dog ate the stem, the leaves, or even unripe tomatoes, it can lead to severe problems.

Ripe tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial for your dog.

Further, it is also rich in vitamins and minerals, which can help your pet improve its overall health.

On the contrary, if your pet ate the tomato’s green parts, it can induce serious problems.

Moreover, it can also cause minor symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress. It can also cause vomiting and can make your pet’s stomach upset.

Some dogs may even show an allergic reaction towards it, although it happens rarely.

To avoid such incidents, prevent your pet from reaching tomato plants.

At the same time, be mindful of feeding tomatoes, especially the green tops.

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Do tomatoes make dogs sick?

Tomatoes do make dogs sick, but not all of them.

As I said earlier, tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables. For this reason, the plant and its fruit contain some components that are harmful to animals.

The thing that can make a dog sick is the unripe fruit, the green top connecting it to the stem, the leaves, and the stem.

In simple terms, all the green parts of a tomato can make a dog sick. It is also for this reason that you should avoid feeding green tomatoes at all times.

Another thing that can make a dog sick from tomatoes is overeating.

Although the ripe ones are safe, feeding too much can also make your pet’s stomach upset.

At the same time, tomatoes can also make a dog sick, mostly if they ate a lot for the first time.

Some dogs can suffer from diarrhea or other issues when they ate something new for the first time.

For this reason, it would be best to avoid serving large amounts of tomato for the first time. 

You can give it a taste and wait for a day to see signs of adverse reaction. If there’s none, you can continue feeding it.

Can dogs have cherry tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes have similar effects to dogs like their regular counterparts. Their main difference only lies in their size. Thus, dogs can eat cherry tomatoes, as long as it’s ripe.

You can offer some cherry tomatoes for your dog, as long as it’s ripe, with the stems, leaves, and tops removed.

You can also offer cherry tomatoes, both raw and cooked, although the latter is ideal.

Last, cherry tomatoes are a safe food for dogs, but it is only safe if fed in moderation.

At the same time, tomatoes should only be treats and snacks and not a regular part of their diet.

Can bulldogs eat peanut butter or mango? Check it out!

Summary

As owners, you can feed tomatoes to your bulldogs, so long as you understand the risks. Tomatoes are only safe for dogs when they are ripe and red. Other than that, you should avoid feeding such, as it can cause harm.

As a general rule of thumb, avoid feeding the green parts of tomatoes. Further, when providing the red ones, limit it to small servings, and only as treats.

Resources

NCBI’s documentation on the effects of solanine to dogs

Image Credits – Photos by dea tomas and Tom Hermans on Unsplash

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