Can Dogs Eat Tomato Sauce? Is It Safe for Them?
One of the most popular pantry staples, tomato sauce, is the perfect ingredient for some dishes like pizza and pasta that we humans devour. If you enjoy meals that constitute tomato sauce and have an urge to share some of that scrumptious food with your canine friend, do you have second thoughts before sharing it because it might contain some toxic ingredients for your dog?
If yes, this article is perfect for you to know if you should be sharing food rich in tomato sauce with your fur buddy, so keep reading till the end!
Tomato sauces like marinara, Sunday, tomato ginger, Puttanesca, caper-tomato, etc., aren’t harmful as whole products, but they might constitute unsafe ingredients for your food-loving pup to consume. Tomato sauces mainly contain garlic, onion, pepper, salt, oregano, red pepper, and sugar, so we will analyze each ingredient separately and conclude accordingly if tomato sauce is safe for your dog to consume.
Are the Ingredients in Tomato Sauces Unhealthy for Dogs?
Garlic and onion contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs because it destroys red blood cells and causes anemia or, worse, death. Suppose your dog has consumed tomato sauce in a significantly large quantity. In that case, you should immediately take him to a veterinarian because they will make your dog vomit (to expel the garlic and onion he consumed) and will provide medication to curb anemia.
Small amounts of tomato sauce can be quite dangerous to small dogs, whereas middle-aged dogs can better retain and digest the sauce! If the sauce remains undigested, your dog might show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and abdominal pain. Your dog might start losing energy and weight, and his gums may become pale. Your best call in these alarming cases is to consult a veterinarian.
You might think the salt content in tomato sauce is trivial, right? That’s what we thought, too, until we learned that 62 grams of tomato sauce have about 321 grams of salt! Insane, right? This much about of salt can eventually lead to extreme thirst, high temperatures, and sodium poisoning in your dog!
Next, we have oregano and basil on the ingredients list. Oregano causes poisoning and mild stomach irritation. However, oregano has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, so consuming it in small amounts can benefit your dog.
Red peppers for dogs are full of vitamins and nutrients not only for you but for your furry friend too! Are we serious? Yes, red peppers containing vitamins A, C, and E are the perfect healthy alternative snack. A bottle of tomato sauce has around 1-2 red peppers, thus having a small amount of sauce won’t cause any harm to your dog’s health.
Finally, we have sugar in the list of ingredients. Too much sugar will never be beneficial for anybody because it can cause obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Dogs aren’t spared from these diseases, too, so make sure your dog doesn’t consume tomato sauce in large amounts.
Some tomatoes and tomato plants can potentially contain the poison ‘tomatine’, which can be extremely dangerous for your dog, and even humans.
All in all, some ingredients of tomato sauce are nutritious, while some are extremely detrimental to your dog’s health. Since it’s better to remain on the safe side, avoid giving tomato sauce to your dog; however, if he manages to lick some once in a while, don’t stress out after it and consult your vet.
My Dog Had Tomato Sauce! What Should I Do?
Firstly, stop fretting because you can cure your dog’s symptoms. If your dog, who is middle-aged and healthy, had a small amount of tomato sauce, then take a chill pill because a few bites of food rich in tomato sauce will cause food poisoning in your dog (worst case).
But if you’re concerned about your dog’s health after he consumed the sauce, then don’t wait to schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss your dog’s health with him. Tell the vet about the ingredients of the tomato sauce so he can guide you better on how to alleviate your dog’s symptoms.
Call your vet’s emergency helpline if your dog has chugged mouthfuls of tomato sauce.
A Safe and Healthy Alternative
If your dog is a tomato lover and every time you’re thinking of having pizza or pasta rich with tomato sauce, then make sure to cook an easy, ready-to-make, and extremely healthy tomato sauce for your fur friend. Use doggie-safe spices and herbs as its ingredients so you and your dog can enjoy meals together. Happy meal-ing!
