Q: My dog urinated on my tomato plants maybe 10 or 12 times over the course of the growing season before we broke him of the habit. I rinsed the plants whenever I saw him do it, but are the tomatoes safe to eat now?
— Dottie Frost, Stow
A: Eating the tomatoes shouldn’t be a problem, said Dr. Jeanette O’Quin, a veterinarian on the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Domesticated and wild animals relieve themselves on or near our garden plants all the time, usually without our knowing it. Urine usually doesn’t contain disease-causing bacteria, O’Quin said, unless the animal has an illness such as a urinary tract infection. But bacteria are everywhere anyway, she pointed out, so be sure to wash the tomatoes well before you eat them.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.