Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Tomato Plant (leaves & vines) Poisonous to Alpacas?

Tomato Plant (leaves & vines) (Solanum lycopersicum) — a garden plant. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — tomato plant (leaves & vines) is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Tomato Plant (leaves & vines) (Solanum lycopersicum)
Tomato Plant (leaves & vines) (Solanum lycopersicum). Photo: fir0002 flagstaffotos [at] gmail.com Canon 20D + Sigma 150mm f/2.8, GFDL 1.2 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Plant type
Garden plant
Also known as
garden tomato
Toxic parts
Leaves, stems and green fruit
Toxic compound
Tomatine and solanine

Why it matters

Ripe tomato fruit in small amounts is a low risk, but never toss garden vines over the fence.

Signs of tomato plant (leaves & vines) poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling and loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Depression, weakness, trembling
  • Dilated pupils

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate tomato plant (leaves & vines)

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

The tomato is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from western South America, and may have been domesticated there, in Mexico, or in Central America. The Spanish introduced tomatoes to Eurasia in the Columbian exchange in the 16th century.From Wikipedia — “Tomato”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 113,590 recorded observations of Solanum lycopersicum L. worldwide, including 13,263 in the United States. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, together with Angel's Trumpet, Tobacco, Bittersweet Nightshade, Black Nightshade, Deadly Nightshade. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is tomato plant (leaves & vines) poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — tomato plant (leaves & vines) is toxic to alpacas. Ripe tomato fruit in small amounts is a low risk, but never toss garden vines over the fence.
What part of tomato plant (leaves & vines) is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves, stems and green fruit.
What are the symptoms of tomato plant (leaves & vines) poisoning?
Drooling and loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, depression, weakness, trembling and dilated pupils.
Is dried tomato plant (leaves & vines) safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q23501.