Tomatoes are often found on the ingredient list of many popular dog foods, but can huskies eat tomatoes?
Huskies can eat tomatoes as long as they are fed in very small amounts and are ripe. Any vine, leaves, or green parts need to be removed as these contain larger amounts of solanine and tomatine that are toxic to huskies in large amounts.
There are a lot of important things to know before feeding your husky any tomatoes, so keep reading to learn how to feed your husky tomatoes safely.
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Why Huskies Can Eat (Some) Tomatoes
Tomatoes are perfectly healthy for huskies if they are ripe and fed in small amounts with any green parts removed.
Many dog foods actually contain tomatoes in small amounts because of the health benefits that they provide.
It’s essential to prepare tomatoes properly for your husky if you plan to feed them tomatoes at home due to the presence of certain toxins in the green parts, including any leaves or the stem.
Do Huskies Like Tomatoes?
I’ve found that tomatoes can be hit-and-miss with huskies; some love the strong, acidic flavor, while others are not interested.
It’s important to remember that huskies don’t need to be fed tomatoes; they will get all the nutrients they need from their regular food. If your husky doesn’t like tomatoes, there are plenty of other treats you can try that have similar health benefits.
Health Benefits Of Tomatoes For Huskies
Given that tomatoes are often found (in small amounts) in dog food, it should be no surprise that they have a lot of health benefits for huskies.
Here’s a quick rundown of the nutrition of one whole raw tomatoes from the USDA:
- 22.5 Calories
- 1.1g Protein
- 0.25g Fat
- Vitamin C: 17.1mg
- Potassium: 298 mg
- Folate: 18.8 mcg
- Vitamin K: 9.88 mcg
Tomatoes are clearly very low in calories and macronutrients, but they are dense in micronutrients that can support your husky’s health.
Vitamin C, for example, is an important antioxidant that helps reduce aging and reduce inflammation.
Potassium is also super important because it is required for nerve impulses and muscle contractions – it literally keeps the heart beating!
How To Feed Your Husky Tomatoes Safely
Before you feed your husky any tomatoes, it’s crucial that you learn how to feed them safely.
Only Feed Ripe Tomatoes & Remove Green Parts
If you want to feed your husky tomatoes, you need to only feed ripe tomatoes and remove any green parts.
This significantly reduces the number of toxins and makes them safe for consumption.
Feed In Moderation
Tomatoes are a treat for huskies and should only make up 10% of their daily calories or less.
In practical terms, a few slices of tomato per day is more than enough, and no more than 1 to 2 whole tomatoes per week.
It’s important to start off small as well, as some dogs can be allergic to tomatoes. If you notice any reactions like itchy skin or excessive licking when you feed them, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
What Happens If You Feed Your Husky Too Much Tomato?
Although tomatoes are very low in calories, you shouldn’t feed your husky much of them because they can be potentially harmful in large amounts due to the risk of tomatine poisoning.
Tomatine is a toxin found in tomatoes with green parts, and if they are fed in large amounts, there is a risk of tomatine poisoning. Fortunately, it would take a very excessive amount of tomatoes for this to occur, and if you follow the guidelines above, there is a very, very small chance of this occurring.
Tomatine poisoning is rare and not commonly fatal, but it can lead to several symptoms and requires treatment by a veterinarian:
- Loss of coordination
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Lethargy
Obviously, if you notice any of these symptoms, go straight to your vet.
What To Do If Your Husky Eats Too Much Tomato
If your husky eats too much tomato, one of two things can happen:
- If the tomatoes eaten were unripe or contained any leaves or vines, they would be at risk of tomatine poisoning.
- If the tomatoes were ripe, they won’t be toxic, but it is likely to cause an upset stomach.
The safest thing to do is to take your husky to a veterinarian who can assess whether they are suffering from poisoning and treat them accordingly.
What About Other Types Of Tomatoes?
Feeding your husky whole tomatoes isn’t the only way that they can be prepared.
Let’s take a look at some other popular ways that tomatoes are prepared and whether they are suitable for your husky or not.
Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce should not be fed to your husky because it contains many other ingredients, like garlic and onion, which are toxic to huskies.
Cooked Tomatoes
Cooked tomatoes are fine for huskies to eat as long as they are ripe and don’t contain any added ingredients like garlic.
You should still follow the guidelines as before and feed them in moderation.
Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are always ripe but can contain many added ingredients, so they should be avoided where possible.
The only type of canned tomatoes that are safe to feed to your husky are organic varieties with no added ingredients or preservatives, but these are not common to come across.
Alternatives To Tomatoes
There are plenty of other options for natural snacks that you can feed to huskies if they don’t like tomatoes:
- Eggs – Cooked eggs are high in protein and fat and make a great treat for your husky. They can also be prepared in several different ways and are great additions to their regular food as a topping.
- Chicken – Cooked chicken contains lots of protein and is a very natural treat for huskies – I’ve never come across a husky that would turn it down!
- Oranges – Oranges are similar to tomatoes in that they are low-calorie and contain lots of micronutrients. They also need some preparation, with the skin and eel needing to be removed first.
- Apples – Apples are another great alternative to tomatoes and are low-calorie and packed full of nutrients. The core and any seeds need to be removed first to make them safer for your husky.
Another option is to stick to classic dog treats, which are perfectly healthy for huskies and designed with nutrition in mind.
In Summary
Hopefully this guide has cleared up everything you wanted to know about feeding your husky tomatoes.
Tomatoes are a great snack for huskies, but you must also be aware of the potential risks.
Always feed them ripe tomatoes, remove any green sections, and limit how much they are fed. Look out for any symptoms of a potential reaction as well; while the possibility of this happening is very low, it is still there.
