Mealtimes are great for cuddling up with your furry friends.
While you eat the nutritious snack of sun-dried tomatoes, you can’t hide from those puppy dog eyes staring at you. But can dogs eat sun dried tomatoes?
Amazingly, this food has both health benefits and downsides for dogs. Let this article clarify how to give them to pets to make the most of the food’s merits.
Can Dogs Eat Sun Dried Tomatoes?
Can dogs have sun-dried tomatoes? Yes, with moderate portions. Dogs could eat sun-dried tomatoes. They pack plenty of nutritional benefits yet also pose a handful of risks!
While dogs can safely consume little ripe tomatoes, any amount beyond a certain threshold is toxic.
The tomatoes’ nightshade family should also be avoided, including potatoes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and blueberries. These plants contain chemicals that could be harmful to your dog.
Of note, sun dried tomatoes, on the other hand, have a minute amount of oil added to them to avoid spoilage and mold. This oil level never raises any health risks to both dogs and humans.
Can Old Dogs, Sick Dogs, And Puppies Eat Sun-Dried Tomatoes?
Yes. Giving sundried tomatoes to a sick, old dog or a puppy is okay. It should be safe so long as the sugar and salt levels are controlled.
The high sugar and salt content elevates the risk of diabetes and kidney disease in your dog. Smaller dogs, in particular, can choke the seeds. Thus, set an eye on puppies while feeding sun-dried tomatoes.
Your dog’s oral and dental health may run a risk due to the seed problem.
Giving your diabetic dog food should not be a problem, provided that it does not compromise their health. Even so, in any case, before feeding it to them, verify with your vet to ensure it’s okay.
Why It Is Good For Your Dogs
They have plenty of fiber, helping aid digestion, along with decent minerals, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron.
Vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate (vitamin B9) can facilitate cell function and tissue growth in dogs. Here are a complete nutritional facts in 1/2 cup of this food, according to WebMD:
- Fat: 1g
- Sodium: 566 mg
- Dietary Fiber 3 g
- Carbohydrate: 15 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Vitamin C: 18%
- Calcium: 3%
- Vitamin A: 5%
- Iron: 11%
When your dog doesn’t like meat, sun dried tomatoes are good to go.
Pivotal Notes While Feeding Sun-Dried Tomatoes To Your Dog
How To Properly Feed Sun Dried Tomatoes?
- Sun-dried tomatoes are an exquisite treat or nutritional supplement for your dog.
- You’d better chop sun-dried tomatoes into small enough bites. This way will halt your dog from choking on them.
- Take out the toxic seeds and stems.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes to your dog’s diet sparingly. Put a little bit into their dry or wet meal, for instance. Treat your dog with raw sun-dried tomatoes or homemade treats prepared with sun-dried tomatoes.
- To prepare the latter, you need sun-dried tomatoes, flour, eggs, and oats. Form them into bite-sized pieces and bake them.
- Introduce new foods to your dog gradually to prevent an upset stomach.
- Red and ripe tomatoes are the top priorities. Remove vines, stalks, and leaves from fresh tomatoes before feeding dogs.
- Pick organic tomato for safety.
- Always rinse fruit before giving it to your dog.
- Read the labels and steer clear of any excess salt or oil.
- To get rid of any extra oil, rinse the sun-dried tomatoes carefully.
How To Identify Tomato Poisoning In Dogs?
Green tomatoes and their leaves are a common source of the poison solanine and tomatine. You should keep your dog away from tomato plants at all times, notably young and green tomatoes.
Tomatine poisoning occurs when one eats an unripe (green) tomato or any of the green portions of the tomato.
Under-a-year-old puppies and old dogs are most prone to tomatine poisoning. Contact a vet if your dog exhibits any symptoms of tomato poisoning:
- Upset stomach
- Coordination loss
- Rapid heartbeat
- Lethargy
- Cardiac effects (arrhythmia, abnormal heart rate)
- Gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea, vomiting)
- Muscle sluggishness or muscle weakness
- Loss of appetite or get digestive issues
- Bad immune system
- Hypersalivation
- Dilated pupils
- Seizures, tremors
- Hives, coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing
Dogs rarely suffer from these signs of tomatine poisoning, and even when they do, it usually doesn’t end in tragedy. Most canines that have been poisoned by tomatine make a full recovery.
Your vet can identify tomato poisoning by performing a comprehensive physical exam, as well as by drawing blood or performing an electrocardiogram. Vets may induce vomiting or apply treatments with medicine to them if needed.
Contact your vet when your dog has consumed too many tomatoes or the tomato plant. In the worst scenario, they could signify something more threatening than tomatine poisoning.
How To Prevent Dogs From Ingesting Too Many Tomatoes
Refrain from allowing your dogs near the numerous treats your garden produces, including tomatoes.
If you have a back garden, ensure you fence it off so the dog can’t get to it and ruin your harvest.
Store green tomatoes in a secure location, away from your curious furry friends. Besides, while preparing tomatoes, watch your dog to ensure they don’t sneak a bite with a tremendous amount.
FAQs
Can Dogs Have Semi-Dried Tomatoes?
Yes, dogs can eat semi-dried tomatoes.
Dried-only-halfway tomatoes or “semi-dried” still have some moisture. Like ordinary tomatoes, they are edible for dogs. Yet, your dog can get a tomatine allergy or food allergies. Be careful and feed him a small amount first to control any side effects.
How Much Tomato Is Safe For Your Dogs?
Give them 1 large or 2 little ripe red tomatoes once a week.
Begin with a modest amount to make sure your dog has no adverse reactions, as tomatines can trigger an allergic reaction in the dog.
Some dogs may not eat snacks like cinnamon bread, yet sun-dried tomatoes could be a great alternative (at a limited amount) with essential nutrients.
Why Can’t Some Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
Despite being edible for canines, tomatoes might be a nightmare for some since they just don’t favor this potentially poisoned veggie.
Notably, high salt and sugar can lead to cardiac issues or bloating. Besides, the sugar content can boost the risk of health issues, including diabetes and obesity. Watch your dog’s eating habits to prevent them from becoming overweight.
Lastly, overfeeding will lead to trouble as the seeds may get lodged in the teeth and could potentially cause dogs to choke.
Can Dogs Drink Tomato Juice?
Yes. There is some evidence to suggest this is not a terrible concept, although opinions are divided. If you give your dog tomato juice, the dog will still drink it. The juice’s high salt content causes the dog to consume more water.
This is good news since it means the dog will be well-hydrated. However, this does not guarantee that kidney issues will never arise again.
The Bottom Line
Can dogs eat sun dried tomatoes? Yes. But never look down on the downsides or some side effects your dog could get.
Consult the vet for the perfect foodstuffs for the pet’s health, dietary needs, and current medications. No dogs have the same tastes and requirements.
Do not forget to share this post with other dog owners, and have a blast!
