- This article has been reviewed by a pet health professional. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
Dogs can eat cherries safely if you remove the pits and stems first. These parts of the fruit aren’t safe for dogs.
“If the pit is crushed from chewing, cyanide may be released and cause toxicity,” explains Dr Dan Su, MS, DVM, DACVIM-Nutrition at BSM Partners. That’s why it’s important to remove the pits, stems, and leaves from cherries before sharing them with your dog.
Read on to learn more about the impact of cherries on a dog’s diet, digestive system, and more.
Top Risks of Feeding Cherries To Dogs
Cherries are safe for dogs in small amounts, but these stone fruits still pose some risks for your pet.
- Toxicity from pits: If your dog damages or crushes the pit by chewing it, cyanogenic glycosides can be released into the digestive tract, where they become hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and cause poisoning.
- Intestinal obstruction: Too many cherries may end up blocking the intestines, according to Dr Su. A smaller dog who eats cherries or a lot at a time is at a higher risk.
- Alcohol poisoning: If the cherry is rotten or fermented, it may contain alcohol, which is dangerous for dogs.
- Dental damage: If your dog bites into a cherry that still contains the pit, the small, hard stone may cause a tooth fracture.
- Weight gain: “While there isn’t a maximum amount of sugar a dog can eat per day, excess sugar can lead to weight gain,” Dr Su says. If your dog accidentally eats a cup of cherries, they will have eaten 20 grams of sugar.
To ensure your dog’s safety, always pit cherries and remove their stems. It’s also best to stick with fresh cherries to avoid excess sugar or toxic sugar substitutes like xylitol. Canned, dried, or jarred cherries may have added sugar or sugar substitutes.
Which parts of cherries are most dangerous for dogs?
| Part of the cherry | Risk level |
| Flesh | Safe. |
| Pit | Highest risk for cyanide poisoning if crushed and swallowed. Can also cause GI obstruction. |
| Stem | Low to moderate risk. Contains cyanide and is more toxic in the process of wilting. |
| Leaf | Low to moderate risk. Contains cyanide and is more toxic in the process of wilting. |
“Cyanogenic glycosides are natural toxins in various plants and seeds, including cherry pits, stems, and leaves. When the pits are intact, these substances remain harmless,” says Dr Patrik Holmboe, DVM, head veterinarian at Cooper Pet Care.
However, dogs have lower rhodanese activity than other animals, which may increase the risk of poisoning. Rhodanese is a mitochondrial enzyme that plays a role in cyanide detoxification by turning the hydrogen cyanide into thiocyanate.
Do Cherries Have Any Health Benefits For Dogs?
Dr Su says cherries are high in fibre and vitamins and can make a healthy treat when prepared appropriately. Remember, though, that cherries aren’t a complete and balanced meal for dogs. It takes a cup of cherries to meet any nutritional needs, and a cup will exceed the amount of sugar your dog should eat daily.
“For a 20-pound dog to meet their vitamin B6 requirement, they would need to eat 400 grams of cherries. This is problematic because a 20-pound dog likely needs about 500–600 calories daily, and the 400 grams of cherries would be about 300 calories already.”
What’s more, this many cherries would contain quite a lot of sugar, especially for a small dog. That’s why it’s best to limit cherries to your dog’s treat allowance—just 10% of their daily calories.
A single cherry has about five calories. So, a 10-pound dog who needs roughly 305 calories per day could eat about 5–6 cherries a day, if you don’t give them any other treats, Dr Su explains. He adds that the sugar content of cherries doesn’t pose a concern if you limit your dog’s intake to this amount.
How Many Cherries Are Toxic For Dogs?
If your dog eats a few intact pits of cherries you bought at the grocery store, you likely don’t need to worry. On the other hand, if they eat a few wild cherries, you’ll want to contact your vet or the PDSA Animal Poison Line to get some expert guidance on their risk and the possible need for treatment.
That said, there’s no clear-cut number defining how many cherries are toxic for dogs, says Dr Renee Schmid, Senior Veterinary Toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline.
“In general, cherries grown to be sold in commercial grocery stores for human consumption have seeds that contain very little cyanide,” she says. “However, wild cherries typically contain higher levels of cyanide, so they may be more problematic when ingested.”
The number of cherries that can cause cyanide poisoning may vary depending on the dog’s overall health, weight, individual sensitivity, as well as the specific cyanide content in the cherries, says Dr Sara Ochoa, DVM at the Animal Hospital of West Monroe and co-founder of Howto-pets.com.
According to Dr Ochoa:
- Small dogs (under 22 lbs): May show symptoms of poisoning even after eating just a few whole cherries.
- Medium dogs (between 22-55 lbs): May be able to eat a small number of whole cherries (less than 10) without major effects.
- Large dogs (over 55 lbs): May be able to eat 10 or more whole cherries without ill effects but still at risk of cyanide poisoning.
Do Dogs Need Treatment After Eating Cherries?
“If your dog has eaten one or two cherries, it’s very unlikely to be a problem,” Dr Holmboe says.
If, however, you know your dog has eaten many cherries—especially the pits—Dr Holmboe recommends checking in with your vet, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning may not always show up right away.
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Having A Reaction?
If your dog has eaten a large number of cherries, it’s important to monitor them for signs of a bad reaction.
Signs of cyanide poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Cherry-red mucous membranes
- Respiratory failure
- Convulsions
Treatment for cyanide poisoning: Your vet will likely give your dog oxygen, sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate. These treatments help the dog’s body eliminate cyanide more rapidly, Dr Holmboe says. They may also provide supportive care, including IV fluids. Your dog will likely need to stay at the vet for monitoring and continuous treatment, especially if they had severe symptoms.
Signs of intestinal obstruction can vary but may include:
Treatment for intestinal obstruction: For a partial obstruction, your vet may recommend waiting to check if the pit passes on its own. For a complete obstruction that causes distress, your vet may recommend surgery to remove the pit.
Signs of a broken tooth include:
- A visible fracture with a red or black spot on the tooth
- Teeth that don’t align properly
- Difficulty closing the mouth
- Inability to eat
- A misaligned jaw
Treatment for broken tooth: “A broken tooth from a cherry pit would be treated much like any broken tooth,” Dr Holmboe says. Treatment can range from smoothing the tooth and monitoring it to root canal therapy, according to Dr Holmboe. In some cases, your vet may recommend extracting the tooth.
Other Fruits Your Dog Can Eat
You have plenty of delicious and nutritious options for fruits your dog can eat without much preparation or concern.
Dr Su recommends blueberries, apples, peaches, and pears as safer fruit choices that contain the same vitamins as cherries.
Other nutritious and safe fruits for dogs include:
- Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Oranges
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Cucumbers
- Mangoes
- Cantaloupe
- Tomatoes
- Pineapple
Want to spoil your pup a little? You can also surprise them with a few frozen homemade dog treats!
