Mary Allen
Pasta with tomato sauce is a favorite dish for many children. Does this also apply to your four-legged friend or does your dog tend to disdain tomato sauce?
Tomatoes are an essential part of eating. The versatile vegetables can be processed in many ways, in salads, in a stew, raw, or as a tomato sauce. Even our furry friends like to nibble on it.
However, tomatoes are part of the nightshade family. And they can be poisonous to dogs. Does this also apply to tomato sauce?
Tomato sauce for dogs?
Your dog can eat small amounts of very ripe tomatoes. This includes tomato sauce. If you have a few spoonfuls of tomato passata, feel free to put them in the feeding bowl.
Tomato passata from fully ripened fruits is usually used for sauces. So your dog gets some of the healthy nutrients too. And benefits from the many vitamins in the tomato.
However, keep in mind that store-bought sauces are often heavily spiced and sweetened by the manufacturers. Ketchup and salsa sauces are therefore not the right tomato sauce for your four-legged friend. However, a few spoonfuls of fully ripe tomatoes are fine.
Tomatoes contain toxic solanine
In principle, nightshade plants such as tomatoes are considered poisonous for dogs because they contain the natural toxin solanine. Even for us humans, most of these plants are not compatible.
For dogs, solanine is even more dangerous. Solanine is considered to be poorly soluble and heat resistant. So you cannot render it harmless by boiling, steaming, or cooking. Therefore, even cooked tomato sauce can still contain toxic solanine.
The greener the nightshade plants are, the more solanine they contain. Therefore, you should only use very ripe foods containing solanine. Green tomatoes, aubergines, or potatoes contain a particularly large amount of solanine. Your dog should never eat these vegetables raw.
Toxic effect of nightshade plants
Solanine causes cell membranes to become more permeable. As a result, too much calcium gets into the interior of the cells. And that kills the cells.
Typical symptoms of solanine poisoning include lightheadedness, rashes, nausea, labored breathing, itchy throat, and diarrhea.
It is best to only buy ripe fruit. And cut away all green and the stalk generously. You should also peel potatoes and aubergines.
Do nightshades only grow in the shade at night?
Everyone knows the term “nightshade plant”. But do you also know what is behind it? At first one might assume that nightshade plants only grow at night or only in the shade. But this is not the case.
Plants with healing and protective properties are called nightshades. The best-known representatives of this genus include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and aubergines.
The nightshade family includes more than 2,500 other plant species. In our latitudes, known and edible species are, for example, chili peppers, cayenne pepper, and goji berries.
What are nightshades?
The term “nightshade plant” dates back to the Middle Ages. There, people use plants to keep evil spirits away. The term “nightshade” means nightmare. And it was believed that plants of this genus drive away bad dreams and demons.
Solanaceae were mainly used as a sedative. They were also said to have an intoxicating effect. It would also be possible that the name nightshade plant comes from there. Shade may indicate the mental derangement these plant species are said to induce.
By the way, from a botanical point of view, the nightshade family belongs to the flowering plants. These are plants that enclose the seeds in an ovary.
Alternatives to tomato sauce?
Tomatoes originally come from Central America and South America. Today you can find them almost everywhere. They are planted all over the world. You can also grow tomatoes in your garden.
And so, tomatoes became the most popular edible nightshade. They are prepared in all sorts of ways, such as tomato sauce.
Despite its popularity, you should only feed your dog amounts of tomato sauce. It is better to use other, harmless types of vegetables for regular feeding.
A healthy alternative is a cucumber, for example. This is very similar to the tomato. Like the tomato, it contains a lot of water and has few calories.
Frequently Asked Question
Can dogs eat tomato paste?
Tomato paste also contains many important vitamins that can enrich your dog’s food. Just 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tomato paste per week is enough for your dog to enjoy the rich ingredients.
Can a dog eat pizza?
No, foods high in salt and fat are not suitable for dogs. That includes the pizza. It can give your dog an upset stomach. Therefore, she is not good at food or treats.
Which is better for the dog rice or potatoes?
In addition to potatoes, you can also feed them peeled and boiled sweet potatoes. Of course, the carbohydrate sources most commonly used by humans are also suitable for dogs: rice and pasta. Rice is often used for gastrointestinal problems because it is easily digestible and therefore well tolerated.
Is egg good for the dog?
If the egg is fresh, you can also feed the nutrient-rich egg yolk raw. Boiled eggs, on the other hand, are healthy for your four-legged friend because the harmful substances are broken down when heated. A good source of minerals is the shells of eggs.
How often can a dog eat an egg?
1-2 eggs for dogs per week are enough.
Why is cheese bad for dogs?
Attention lactose: Can dogs eat milk and cheese? Dogs do not tolerate milk very well due to the lactose it contains. In large amounts, it can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The same applies to dairy products.
Are biscuits toxic to dogs?
Cookie. Neither raw nor baked dough is good for your dog. Too greasy and has way too much sugar. Cookies also contain other ingredients that are incompatible with dogs, such as chocolate, nuts, and cinnamon.
Can a dog eat peppers?
In small quantities, well ripened (i.e. red) and cooked, paprika is well tolerated and can enrich your four-legged friend’s diet. Otherwise, you can simply use carrots, cucumber, boiled(!) potatoes, and many other types of vegetables.