Can dogs eat tomato sauce? You may be asking this because you want to share your spaghetti with your pup. Humans can eat tomato sauce, so is it also safe for dogs to eat?
There is no short yes or no answer to whether dogs can eat tomato sauce. Plain tomato sauce that you make in your home, and even some canned tomato sauces, are safe for your dog, but some other sauces with additives are not.
As with all human foods, you must ask your veterinarian before feeding your dog any new dietary additions. Here’s what you should know about feeding tomato sauce to your dog.
When Is Tomato Sauce Safe For Dogs To Eat?
Tomato sauce is safe for dogs to eat when it is as simple as possible — that is, if the tomato sauce you are giving your dog is just cooked tomatoes.
You may have heard that tomatoes are poisonous to dogs, which is somewhat misleading. Unripe tomatoes and tomato stems contain a compound called solanine that is toxic to dogs. Dogs needs to eat a large amount of green tomatoes or tomato stems to exhibit signs of solanine toxicity.
Another compound, tomatine, is found in the green parts of tomatoes and can cause stomach upset if consumed in large quantities.
That said, ripe, red tomatoes are safe for your pup to eat and are a good source of antioxidants and vitamin C. If you want to give your dog plain tomato sauce as a snack, you might consider adding a tablespoon to your dog’s food as a treat.
When Is Tomato Sauce Unsafe For Dogs?
While basic tomato sauce is safe for dogs, a lot of tomato sauces contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs to eat. If you enjoy cooking red sauce for pastas, you know that plain tomato sauce can be rather bland. Often, garlic, onions, and salt are added to tomato sauce to add flavor.
Although these are tasty additions for humans, garlic and onions are toxic to dogs. Toxicity caused by garlic or onion consumption may result in an emergency trip to the vet.
If your dog ate tomato sauce with these vegetables in whole or spice form, you should contact your veterinarian to determine next steps.
Some tomato sauces, especially jarred tomato sauces, contain loads of salt. Salt isn’t toxic to dogs, but it isn’t good for them. Your dog may suffer from diabetes, obesity, or heart issues if given large amounts of salt frequently.
Has your dog ever eaten tomato sauce? Do you add plain sauce to your dog’s food as a treat? Let us know in the comments.
