Our dogs and the figs...

[Richard Crowe]

Our several fig trees now have ripe fruit.  We try to cull the ripe figs from the trees but, often a ripe fig or two will fall to the ground.  Enter Holly and the Maltese, they just love the figs but figs give them loose bowels.  No big problem since they do their business out doors.

 

However, we had quite a few wild tomato plants around our acre of property.  The dogs also like the ripe grape tomatoes but, don't eat green tomatoes or the tomato vines.  I have researched and learned that the ripe tomatoes are not harmful to dogs but, that the green tomatoes and tomato vines can be harmful... 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, the tomato plants themselves are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Here's a link to the ASPCA info on this:

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants/tomato-plant

From the link:

Tomato Plant

Scientific Name:

Lycopersicon spp

Family:

Solanaceae

Toxicity:

Toxic to Horses, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs

Toxic Principles:

Solanine

Clinical Signs:

Hypersalivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, CNS depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate.

If your pet ingested this plant, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.*
* A $65 consultation fee may apply.

[L.M.]

I don't blame them for wanting those figs!  My neighbors have fig trees so we get bags of them given to us...they are DELISH!!  I didn't know that about the tomato plants...mine actually ONLY go for the green tomatoes...they pop them but don't eat them, but now that I know this I will have to move them next year.  Luckily they don't go for the vines...Thanks for sharing this!!  =) 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Halely absolutely LOVES figs and will eat them off the ground and pick from lower branches.  We had to temporarily fence off a section where the fig tree overhangs a gravel path to keep him from accidently ingesting gravel.

When he was a puppy Haley loved rotten tomatoes but now he does not eat tomatoes at all.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Wow... I did not know that about tomato plants  !!  My doodles like to play with a ripe tomato if one should fall and I will let them play with it but they really never showed any interest in the vine.  Good information - THANKS !

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Sorry to stir up an old discussion, but I found a website with tomato, spinach, and cheese treats and now I'm questioning whether these are ok for the dogs- the recipe calls for tomato paste. Is that okay for them to eat? As long as the tomato is ripe they are safe, correct?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ripe tomatoes should be safe, but I'm not sure about tomato paste. I think I would pass on this recipe. Tomato paste is very acidic, some dogs don't tolerate dairy products, and all in all it sounds like it could cause some GI problems for some dogs. There are so many good treats and treat recipes out there. 

[Sally S Miles]

Oh, how I miss fresh figs - sigh.... I don't blame them one bit, but I know they are keeping you hopping.