Does your dog enjoy eating fruits left on your kitchen counter, or raiding the fridge for leftovers? And do they particularly love chomping down on some cherry tomatoes? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that cherry tomatoes are one of the healthiest fruits you can feed your dog. These red little delicacies make a great addition to their diet, and the good news is that you don’t even need to feel guilty about giving these to your pooch as a treat!
All you need to make sure is that you don’t feed them too much and avoid the unripe ones. There are plenty of benefits of feeding cherry tomatoes to your dog. Here’s a list of five reasons why cherry tomatoes are good for your dog:
1. Cherry Tomatoes Are Full of Antioxidants
As delicious as they are, cherry tomatoes are also high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are believed to fight off free radicals which damage cells in the body that can cause cancer. Antioxidants in cherry tomatoes will reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes in your dog. They are also credited with helping to protect your pet’s body against the negative effects of aging and the symptoms associated with it. Therefore, it is a good idea to improve your dog’s diet with high antioxidant fruits such as cherry tomatoes.
2. Cherry Tomatoes Are High in Vitamin C
Cherry tomatoes are exceptionally high in vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for the growth and maintenance of muscles, skin, and ligaments. Your dog’s immune system relies on vitamin C for immunity building, collagen formation (stronger connective tissue), and bone strength. And while dogs can synthesize vitamin C in their own bodies, it’s essential that they receive enough of this vitamin through the foods that they eat. Consuming a healthy amount of Vitamin C is also linked to healthy skin and coat, faster wound healing, and prevention against cardiovascular diseases.
Related: 10 Things to Do Before Feeding Tomatoes To Your Dog
3. Cherry Tomatoes Are Full of Fiber
Cherry tomatoes are extremely high in fiber, which ensures your dog’s digestive system runs smoothly and prevents gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. While most commercial dog foods contain added fiber to help with the digestive process, some dogs will still suffer from digestion issues if they don’t get enough fiber on a regular basis. Moreover, the high fiber content in cherry tomatoes makes it a great food for dogs that are overweight or obese.
The high fiber content will help your dog feel fuller for longer and will also take more time to digest. This, in turn, keeps your pet satiated for longer periods of time which means that they won’t be as likely to snack on other unhealthy treats when you’re not looking.
4. Cherry Tomatoes Are High in Potassium
Cherry tomatoes are high in potassium, which is a mineral that’s involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Potassium helps your dog maintain healthy blood pressure, keep the heart beating, regulate water balance, and boost metabolism. Potassium is readily available in most dog foods, but if you’ve noticed that your dog has a potassium deficiency, it’s quite common for them to suffer from muscle weakness, fatigue, irritability, and lack of appetite. If this is the case, you should consider increasing their potassium intake either through changing their diet or encouraging them into eating more fruits such as cherry tomatoes.
5. Cherry Tomatoes Are Full of Vitamin A and Beta-carotene
Cherry tomatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for cell regeneration, good eyesight, bone development, and a strong immune system. Furthermore, Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant which means that it helps to clear away free radicals from the body and prevent cell damage and cancer. This makes cherry tomatoes a great food for dogs that are suffering from conditions like stunted growth, stunted muscle growth, poor eyesight, and even cancer!
If you want to give your dog the best chances of consuming plenty of vitamin A, then try giving them cherry tomatoes every once in a while. Cherry tomatoes are also high in beta-carotene which gets converted into vitamin A as your dog ingests them. However, like all vegetables and fruits, you don’t need to feed your dog huge amounts of cherry tomatoes to get their daily dose of these vitamins.
Conclusion
Cherry tomatoes are extremely healthy fruits and they make a great addition to your dog’s diet. One of the great things about these tasty little fruits is that they’re low in calories and high in vitamins and nutrients. So, if you’re looking to get the most out of your dog’s diet, then don’t miss out on giving them some cherry tomatoes every once in a while!
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To explore more, check out our other tomato-related dog articles.
Does your dog like cherry tomatoes? Do they hate it? Do they eat it plain or do they wait until you put it in a salad or a pasta dish first? We’d love to know what you think in the comments section below.
My puppy always bites me whenever I’m holding a cherry tomato in my hand. I think he wants to eat some of them.