There are certain foods you should never feed your Pugs such as grapes, onions, and chocolate. If your dog waits around for you to feed them from your plate, you’re probably wondering “can Pugs eat tomatoes?”
Can Pugs Eat Tomatoes?
Well, the short answer is yes you can feed your dog tomatoes, as long as you don’t expose them to solanine or tomatine, which is the green part of the plant.
Both solanine and tomatine can have serious effects on canines. Avoid feeding your dog any green parts of the tomatoes, including the vines and stems, as well as unripened tomatoes.
Don’t worry, we’ll go over how to safely feed your pooch this fruit/veggie below.
Related: What You Should Feed A Pug
But first…
As always, consult with your veterinarian before feeding your Pug any new foods or making any changes to their diet.
Related: What Vegetables Are Good For Pugs?
Are There Any Benefits To Feeding Tomatoes To Pugs?
According to Healthline, this fruit/veggie is a great dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been known to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease in humans. (source)
Tomatoes are not poisonous for dogs, and they do offer several health benefits for our four-legged friends. In fact, that’s why many pet food manufacturers use tomato paste or tomato pomace.
Tomato paste is made from cooked tomatoes but does not contain any of the seeds or skin. Tomato pomace is a by-product that is made from the skin, pulp and seeds of the fruit.
Both can be found in several brands of dog foods, because of the high amounts of antioxidants and Lycopene, which is a great source of soluble fiber.
Fun Tomato Facts
Tomatoes are labeled as both a fruit or an edible fruit, although they are generally referred to as vegetables.
They belong to the nightshade family and contain a chemical called solanine which some people believe can aggravate arthritis pain.
Lycopersicon lycopersicum, is the scientific name, which means wolf peach.
Currently, at the time of this writing, there are over 7,000 different varieties of tomatoes around the world, which come in an assortment of colors including white, yellow, pink, purple and black.
Cooked tomatoes have more beneficial chemicals than raw ones. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, Americans consume about 22 – 24 pounds of tomatoes in a year per individual.
Most of the tomatoes eaten by Americans are consumed in the process form such as ketchup, salsa, spaghetti sauce and etc.
Nutritional Facts
One cup of sliced or chopped raw tomatoes contains:
- Cholesterol: 0 Grams
- Calories: 32 kcal
- Fiber: 2.2 Grams
- water: 170.14 Grams
- Protein: 1.58 Grams
- Carbohydrates: 5.8 Grams
- Vitamin C: 24.7 MG
- Calcium: 18 MG
- Phosphorous: 43 MG
- Potassium: 427 MG
Are Tomatoes Safe For Pugs?
The meat of the tomato, including the skin and seeds, are fine for your pooch, as long as it is a ripened tomato.
Green tomatoes, or any part of the stems, or leaves of the plant contain a toxin that is called solanine.
Most dogs that are affected by tomatine poisoning will experience vomiting and diarrhea.
This toxin can cause gastrointestinal distress, confusion, muscle weakness, seizures, and lethargy if eaten in large amounts.
If you believe your dog has tomatine poisoning, you will want to contact your veterinarian.
Feeding Tomatoes To Dogs: Use Common Sense
If you’re shopping for tomatoes to share with your pooch, opt for the organic variety. These are not exposed to harmful pesticides that can harm your pooch.
Whether you pick a tomato from your garden or buy one from the supermarket, only feed your pooch fully ripened tomatoes. (Roma and cherry tomatoes are fine too)
What About Tomato Sauce, Ketchup and Other Tomato-Based Foods?
Americans love eating tomatoes and most of them are eaten in processed forms such as tomato sauces, juices, soups, salsas, and ketchup.
Never share any type of tomato-based food with your dogs, such as pizza, spaghetti sauce, tomato soups and etc.
These types of foods contain additives such as sugar, salt, and other chemicals that can be harmful to your four-legged friend.
What Parts of A Tomato Should You Feed A Pug?
If you’re the type of person who loves sharing fruits and veggies with your Pug, then this table will help you understand which parts of tomato are good for your pooch.
Parts Of A Tomato | Safe For Your Pug To Eat? |
Skin | Yes |
Seeds | Yes |
Vine | No, contains solanine |
Stem | No, contains toxic solanine |
*Reference this table to find out which parts of the tomato a dog can eat.
How Can I Feed My Pug Tomato?
Wash the tomato in cold water and cut it into small bite-size pieces for your pooch.
If you’re like most people, you may add a dash of salt to your tomatoes. These types of additives can be harmful to your Pug.
The safest way to feed your Pug tomatoes is to give them small bite-size pieces without any salt, pepper, or any other additives.
Tomato Recipes For Your Pug
If your dog loves tomatoes then you may want to consider preparing some dog-friendly pizza that both of you will enjoy. (source)
You can also search the Internet to find tons of other fresh tomato recipes your dog will love.
If you don’t have time to cook for your Pug, then you may want to consider using PetPlace to order your Pug some fresh cooked dog food.
How Much Tomatoes Should You Feed A Pug?
Feeding your dog too much of this veggie can lead to health issues. I’d personally recommend feeding your Pug small pieces of tomato as an occasional treat and no more than twice a week.
Your dog should be getting most of their nutrients from high-quality dog food.
Snacks and treats should consume no more than 10% of your dog’s recommended daily calorie allowance.
Alternatives To Tomato For Pugs
Even though Pugs can eat tomatoes, there are several risks involved.
If your dog loves eating small pieces of fruits and veggies, you may want to consider feeding them some safer options such as the ones below.
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Carrots
Final Word On Feeding Pugs Tomato
As you can see, tomatoes are not poisonous to dogs. If feeding your Pug tomatoes, look for mature, ripe, red tomatoes. (cherry tomatoes fine as well).
Start off slowly to ensure that your pooch doesn’t have any allergic reactions.
If they like it and do not experience any adverse effects, you can continue offering the veggie as an occasional treat.
References And Further Reading
PetMD – Are Tomatoes Poisonous For Dogs?