Why is it dangerous to pets?
These plants make solanine and tomatine, bitter alkaloids that irritate the gut and, in larger amounts, affect the nervous system. The plant concentrates them in leaves, stems, sprouts and green skin to deter animals from eating them.
Ripe red tomatoes and the white flesh of peeled potatoes contain only trace amounts, which is why they are considered safe in small food amounts.
Why speed matters
Delaying care significantly worsens outcomes. Some signs appear hours or days later, so "looks fine right now" is not a reason to wait.
Symptoms of tomato-plant poisoning
- Drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain, loss of appetite
- Lethargy, weakness, depression
- Wobbliness, tremors, dilated pupils
- Slow heart rate, collapse or seizures in large ingestions
What to do right now
- Call your vet or a poison line and say which part of the plant was eaten.
- Remove the pet from the vegetable patch and fence or net the plants.
- Do not induce vomiting unless instructed.
- Ripe tomato fruit and cooked plain potato in small amounts are not the concern — the green parts are.
If your pet shows any of the signs above, go to the nearest emergency vet now and call ahead.
Sources & further reading
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — pet poison database & dosage references
- Pet Poison Helpline — toxicology triage guidelines
- Merck Veterinary Manual — toxicology monographs
- Vets Now (UK) — emergency toxicosis guidance