Cherry tomato (ripe)
CautionASPCA states ripe tomato fruit is non-toxic, so the flesh is not the issue. Two other things are: a whole cherry tomato is airway-sized for a small dog, and the green cap is where the glycoalkaloids sit.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Choking
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Loose stool
- Excessive salivation
- Abdominal pain
More about this food
Cherry tomatoes are the clearest case of fruit versus plant. The ASPCA toxic plant database lists the tomato plant, Lycopersicon spp., as toxic to dogs with solanine as the toxic principle, and then ends the entry with a crucial line: ripe fruit is non-toxic. Pet Poison Helpline agrees that ripe, red tomatoes are generally safe for dogs in moderation, while the green parts of the plant, including unripe tomatoes, leaves, stems, vines and flowers, are toxic. So the red flesh itself is not a poisoning question.
The real hazards are elsewhere. First, size and shape. A cherry tomato is round, smooth, slippery and close to airway diameter for a small dog, and dogs crush food two or three times before swallowing. That combination is why cherry tomatoes are a top choking food for human toddlers, and the same geometry applies here. Halve them, or quarter them for a small breed.
Second, the cap. Grocery cherry tomatoes often keep the green calyx and a stub of stem, and that green tissue is exactly where tomatine and solanine concentrate. One cap will not put a dog in the hospital, but there is no reason to leave it on. Pull it off, and set aside any tomato still showing orange or green shoulders.
Third, quantity. Cherry tomatoes are sweeter and more acidic per bite than a slicing tomato, so a whole pint gets you loose stool, vomiting or stomach upset. One or two a day, inside the standard 10% treat budget, is plenty. Worth knowing that AKC takes the more conservative line and recommends skipping tomatoes altogether, on the grounds that safer options exist.
What to do now: if your dog chewed and swallowed a few ripe ones, offer water and watch. If a whole tomato went down and your dog is gagging or struggling to breathe, go in immediately. If several green tomatoes, caps or stems were eaten, watch for drooling, lethargy, wobbliness or dilated pupils and call your veterinarian, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I toss my dog a whole cherry tomato?
- Better not. Round, slippery and airway-sized is the classic choking shape, especially for small breeds and dogs that swallow without chewing. Halve them, quarter them for a small dog, and remove the green cap first.
- He ate one with the green stem still on. Is that dangerous?
- A single cap is unlikely to cause serious poisoning, but the green tissue is where the glycoalkaloids concentrate. Watch for drooling, vomiting, lethargy or wobbliness, and call your vet if any of those show up.
- How many cherry tomatoes a day are okay?
- One for a small dog and two or three for a larger one is plenty, kept inside the usual 10% treat allowance. Their sugar and acidity bring loose stool and stomach upset if you go past that.