| Verdict for dogs | Caution |
| Severity | 2 / 5 — Mild — usually stomach upset; watch them. |
| Safe amount | A taste at most |
| Category | Vegetable |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
Ripe red tomato flesh is fine — the ASPCA's own entry for the tomato plant says the ripe fruit is non-toxic. The plant is the danger: stems, leaves and unripe green tomatoes contain solanine, and the ASPCA lists the tomato plant as toxic to dogs, causing drooling, severe stomach upset, weakness, dilated pupils and a slow heart rate. Garden dogs are the ones at risk.
Don't make it a habit. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or a lost appetite over the next day and call your vet if it doesn't settle or your dog seems unwell.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
If you're sharing food because you want to treat them, a treat formulated for dogs does the job without the guesswork.
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Can cats eat tomatoes? — Feed with caution to cats.
Not toxic, but be careful — tomatoes aren't poisonous to dogs, and they come with caveats that matter. Ripe red tomato flesh is fine — the ASPCA's own entry for the tomato plant says the ripe fruit is non-toxic. The plant is the danger: stems, leaves and unripe green tomatoes contain solanine, and the ASPCA lists the tomato plant as toxic to dogs, causing drooling, severe stomach upset, weakness, dilated pupils and a slow heart rate. Garden dogs are the ones at risk.
Watch for: Drooling, vomiting or diarrhea; Lethargy and weakness; Dilated pupils; A slow heart rate. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
The safe amount is a taste at most, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.