Can dogs eat Tomatoes?

Overview

Tomatoes are safe for dogs to consume moderately as long as they are ripe. However, tomatoes have high acidity levels; they should only be given to dogs in small amounts. In addition, never feed young tomatoes, tomato leaves, and their stems to your dog since they contain solanine that is toxic to dogs.

Benefits

Ripe tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin K. These nutrients have cancer-fighting properties.
Tomatoes contain soluble and insoluble fiber, promoting healthy digestion in dogs and maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is good for the heart. They also have beta-carotene, which promotes good eye health in dogs.

Risks

Unripe tomatoes contain alkaloid solanine which is toxic to dogs in large quantities. The toxin is also present in tomato stems and leaves.
Tomatoes are highly acidic; excessive consumption can cause stomach upset in dogs.

Servings

Only feed dogs completely ripe tomatoes. Remove the stems and leaves. Wash and peel the tomatoes.
Cook peeled tomatoes properly and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Cooking the tomatoes makes it much easier for dogs to absorb and utilize the lycopene.
Serve tomatoes to your dog in small quantities and moderation.