Plant
Tomato leaves and green tomatoes
Contact a vet if a large amount of plant material was eaten.
MildDogsCats
Illustrative cover using relevant category imagery; it does not depict the exact subject.
What to do right now
- 1.Remove plant material
- 2.Note that ripe red tomatoes are safe in small amounts
- 3.Call your vet if symptoms appear
Symptoms
- Drooling
- Stomach upset
- Lethargy
- In large amounts: weakness and confusion
Details
- Category
- Plant
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats
- Routes of exposure
- Eating the leaves, stems or unripe green fruit, which contain tomatine and solanine.
- Urgency
- Contact a vet if a large amount of plant material was eaten.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Ripe tomato flesh is fine for dogs; the risk is the green plant itself, so fence off greenhouse and allotment plants.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Tomato leaves and green tomatoes, report the exposure route: Eating the leaves, stems or unripe green fruit, which contain tomatine and solanine. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Sources on this topic
Pages on this specific subject from recognised organisations. They are cited for further reading and do not mean the organisation has reviewed this page.
- Tomato: toxicity to pets — Pet Poison Helpline
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Tomato Plant — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.