Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
⚠️ In moderation — with a couple of catches
Only ripe red tomato flesh is non-toxic — the green parts, leaves, stems, and unripe (green) tomatoes contain tomatine (a solanine relative) and should be avoided.
In small amounts, dogs can have ripe red tomato flesh as an occasional treat — but the green parts, leaves, and stems contain tomatine and should be avoided, and even ripe tomatoes can upset some dogs' stomachs.
How much tomatoes can my dog eat?
A 30-lb adult dog needs about 794 kcal/day, so treats should stay under 79 kcal. That's up to about 26 cherry tomatoes a day as a treat.
A treat limit (10% of daily calories), not a target — assumes an adult dog. Puppies and special diets: use the full calculator.
Tomatoes are an occasional treat, not a daily food — even ripe ones can upset a dog's stomach because of the acidity. The calculator's number is the 10%-of-calories ceiling; start with a single piece and see how your dog reacts.
Are tomatoes good for dogs?
Ripe red tomatoes bring some fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate to the bowl, plus antioxidants — which is why they sometimes appear as an ingredient in commercial pet food. The catch is the green parts (leaves, stems, and unripe green tomatoes) contain tomatine, so only ripe red flesh is treat-safe, and even then in small amounts because of the acidity.
How to serve tomatoes
- Use only ripe red tomatoes — remove the green stem, leaves, and any green parts, then dice the flesh into bite-size pieces.
- Start with a small amount the first time and watch how your dog reacts.
- For small dogs, halve or quarter cherry tomatoes to prevent choking — and skip whole tomatoes for puppies.
What to avoid
- Never let your dog eat tomato leaves, stems, or unripe (green) tomatoes — the green parts contain tomatine.
- Skip tomato-based foods like pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and ketchup — they usually contain garlic and onions (toxic to dogs) and added salt or sugar.
- Be extra cautious with small dogs and puppies — even a smaller amount of the tomato plant can hit harder for them.
- If your dog ate a lot of tomato or any of the plant itself, call your vet for guidance.
Common questions
- Can dogs eat cherry tomatoes?
- Yes — ripe red cherry tomatoes are fine in small amounts as an occasional treat. Remove the green stem and any green parts, and halve or quarter them for small dogs to prevent choking.
- Are tomatoes toxic to dogs?
- Ripe red tomatoes are considered non-toxic. The green parts of the plant — leaves, stems, and unripe (green) tomatoes — contain tomatine (a solanine relative) and should be avoided.
- How many tomatoes can a dog eat?
- The calculator above shows the 10%-of-calories ceiling for your dog's weight in cherry tomatoes — that's the maximum, not a daily target. Because tomatoes are acidic and can upset some dogs' stomachs, start with a single piece and see how your dog reacts.
- Can dogs eat tomato sauce or ketchup?
- No — tomato sauce, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and ketchup usually contain garlic, onions, added salt, or sugar, and some sugar-free brands contain xylitol. Stick to plain ripe red tomato flesh.
- What happens if my dog eats a green tomato?
- Green (unripe) tomatoes and the green parts of the plant contain tomatine, which can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, or tremors. If you think your dog has eaten a green tomato or any of the plant, call your vet.
- Can puppies eat tomatoes?
- Tiny amounts of plain ripe red tomato flesh are usually fine, but AKC notes that a smaller amount of tomato can cause poisoning in puppies and small breeds because of their size — so it's worth being extra careful and asking your vet first.