Dogs love munching on all kinds of fruits since they carry both sweet and sour tastes. Fruits are also a great means of bringing variation to your pet’s diet, but unfortunately, not all fruit is considered safe for your pet dog.
The stems, seeds, and leaves of cherries contain a cyanide compound. Cyanide binds with an enzyme involved in cellular oxygen transport. In the altered state, the enzyme will not function properly in transporting oxygen across cellular membranes.
As a result, hemoglobin cannot release oxygen to the cells, and cellular respiration can’t occur. All types of cherries, including chokecherries, black cherries, and cherry laurel, contain the cyanide compound.
In terms of cherries, they are an excellent fruit filled with luscious flavor, but can dogs eat cherries? Let’s find out.
Can Dogs Eat Cherries?
Unfortunately, no. Dogs cannot eat cherries irrespective of whether they are sweet or tart. Cherries contain vitamins A, C, melatonin, and other essential nutrients that can lead to a number of health benefits like controlling blood sugar levels and alleviating pain of any sort.
However, cherries also contain a high amount of sugar and a hard pit containing cyanogenic glycoside (cyanide), which is not recommended for dogs.
We understand this might come as a shock to you, but there’s a pretty good explanation behind this. The only workaround for this is to remove the pit, leaves, and the entire stem part and only feed your pet the flesh of the cherries.
In that case, it will be safe for your pet but only in a small amount since they still contain a high amount of sugar.
Continue reading to find out more about why dogs shouldn’t eat cherries.
Are Cherries Bad For Dogs?
The cyanogenic glycoside or cyanide present in cherries is highly toxic for your dog. It is found in the following parts of the cherries:
When a dog chews on a cherry, its pit, leaves, or even the stem, it will expose your furry friend to cyanogenic glycoside. Right after exposure, it will lead to the activation of cyanide in your pet’s body and ultimately make your pet dog sick.
A number of health complications will arise from this, which are certainly not worth the trouble. More on the life-threatening health complications is discussed in the latter part of the article so make sure you go through the end.
If you still insist on feeding your pet cherries, you will have to remove the stem, pit and leaves of the cherries. This will allow you to feed your pet cherries, but due to the high sugar amount, it still poses a threat to your pet’s health. So, it is best to avoid them altogether.
As a bonus for you, we have also mentioned healthy alternatives to cherries that are filled with vitamins and other essential nutrients to keep your pet active, healthy, and filled with energy!
Are Cherries Safe For Dogs?
From what you read above, the answer to this is “No”. Cherries might be filled with vitamins and nutrients that will keep your pet healthy, but due to the presence of cyanide it is certainly not worth feeding your dog.
Moreover, when it comes to the safety of your dog and cherries, it also depends on the size of your dog. If you have a physically large dog and he/she eats one or two cherries, they will likely do no harm and you shouldn’t be worried about any life-threatening disease.
On the contrary, if you have a relatively smaller dog from the smaller breeds, one or two cherries will likely lead to significant discomfort and immediately lead to life-threatening health complications.
Based on the above factors, you should simply drop the idea of giving your pet friend any cherries no matter the size of your dog. No pet owner would want to expose their pet to toxins so you should resort to the healthier and more safe fruits listed down below.
Do Dogs Like Cherries?
Now that we have answered the question “can dogs eat cherries,” the second most important question is whether dogs like cherries?
All dogs are different and tend to have different likes and dislikes. As you already know, dogs simply gulp down any food that is served to them, some dogs will simply gulp down cherries as well.
They are filled with a lusciously sweet and sour taste, and they will absolutely love eating them. However, some dogs may simply hate the same taste. So, when it comes to whether dogs like eating cherries it depends on the personal preference of your dog.
In the case of cherries, you will have to keep the likes and dislikes of your pet dog aside because it is highly advised not to feed your dog cherries of any kind as they are unsafe for dogs.
Why Are Cherries Unsafe For Dogs?
Simply put, the deadly chemical referred to as cyanide found in cherries is what makes cherries unsafe for your dog. In addition to the cyanide, high sugar content in cherries also poses a health risk to your pet.
The cyanide in cherries outweighs the healthy nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, melatonin, fiber, carbohydrates, and other essential minerals -thus making them unsafe for dogs.
However, keep in mind that cyanide present in cherries is not potent enough to immediately make your pet sick just by eating merely one or two cherries.
But, if your dog munches on a handful of cherries, you will have to rush your pet to the local vet immediately or to animal poison control to assess the damage and start treating.
Apart from this, since dogs gulp down things as whole, it may lead to internal blockages in the intestine of small dogs. If a cherry causes internal blockage in your dog, you should keep an eye out for the following symptoms.
Vomiting may be worrisome for you, but you should know that as suggested by the vets, vomiting will likely prevent or lower the risk of cyanide poisoning in your dog.
Based on the number of cherries your pet friend has had, he or she may experience the following symptoms caused due to cyanide poisoning.
All of these symptoms combined will drain your pet friend internally and cause extreme weakness and may ultimately end up taking your pet’s life. So, if you observe any of the following symptoms, you should rush your pet to the vet to begin treatment of your furry one.
Why are Cherries dangerous for dogs?
Although cherries are considered a super food in the human diet, they are not necessary for dogs. Because they contain cyanide, the stems, seeds, and leaves of the cherry tree or shrub are poisonous to dogs if they eat enough of them.
Dogs do not know to stop eating when they get to the core or pit, and as a result, they will eat the fruit, seed, stem, and leaf if they are available to them. Do not leave unpitted cherries with or without stems out on the counter or in a place that your dog can access.
If you have chokecherry or other cherry tree or shrub on your property, you want to make sure your dog does not ingest any fruit that falls to the ground.
Ailments, Diseases, Damage:
Cyanide results in damage at the cellular level because it inhibits oxygen across the cell membrane. Without oxygen, cells cannot function properly and will die.
Diagnosis, Clinical Signs, Symptoms:
Dogs that ingest cherries and their seeds, stems, and leaves are often found dead. Other signs you may observe include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, bright red gums, excitement or apprehensiveness, muscle tremors, diarrhea, and shock.
If you observe these signs and see remains of cherries, leaves, or stems, you should suspect poisoning from this plant.
Cherry Pits – Can Dogs Eat Cherry Pits?
Cherries are a flavorsome fruit that everybody loves. They belong to the “prunus genus” family which comprises of stone fruits. The seeds of fruits belonging to the prunus genus family have a seed which is covered by a hard shell referred to as the pit.
Now, we as humans simply spit them out since they are hard and contain toxic properties -thus making them unsafe for us.
Similar is the case with dogs, cherry pits are harmful to dogs as well. But unlike us, dogs do not spit out the cherry pits and simply gulp them down which raises concerns about the safety of your furry friend.
To address these concerns, here’s a detailed insight into this to ensure your pet’s safety:
Are Cherry Pits Bad For Dogs?
The answer to this is a big YES! Cherry pits are bad for your dogs and should be avoided at all costs. Not only cherry pits but the pits of other stone fruits like peach and plum also pose a threat to your pet friend.
Cherries, when consumed in a large number, will lead to a large number of cherry pits piling up in the intestines of your pet friend. As a result of this pile-up, it will lead to the blocking of the intestines of your pet, which can be significantly life-threatening.
Apart from this, cherry pits can also lead to choking, which is another major concern for pet owners. Due to these risks, cherry pits are considered bad for the health of your dogs and should not be served to your dog.
How Many Cherry Pits Are Toxic To Dogs?
Cyanide from cherry pits is considered lethal for dogs. Taking this in number, approximately 2 mg/kg of the weight of your dog is considered deadly for your dog.
So, for cherry pits to end up taking the life of a 22 kg dog, it would require 44 mg of cyanide (broken down from cherry pits and from eating cherry leaves and the stem part).
For 44 mg of cyanide, a dog will have to eat a large number of cherry pits, probably more than a couple of handfuls, for it to suffer from cyanide poisoning.
Are Cherries Poisonous To Dogs?
Cherries, in general, are not poisonous to dogs. It is the stem, leaves, and kernel part of the cherry pit that contains a chemical referred to as amygdalin. It is a cyanogenic glycoside which is what makes cherries harmful and poisonous to dogs.
In layman’s terms, this cyanogenic glycoside compound directly impacts the supply of oxygen to your dog’s body and creates breathing complications in it. As a result, your dog may suffer from labored breathing.
This ultimately leads to other health complications that include damage to the following body organs:
To conclude, cherries are poisonous to dogs, and it will create serious life-threatening problems for your pet. In addition to this, the excess of these problems can only be assessed based on the number of cherries your pet has consumed.
For smaller dogs, just one or two cherries will make them sick, whereas, for larger dogs, a handful of cherries will likely make them severely sick.
How Many Cherries Can Kill A Dog?
Assume that a dog eats more than a single bag or more than a couple of handfuls of cherries and that the cherry pits are somehow broken down after ingestion, your dog will start experiencing the symptoms of cyanide poisoning. It will ultimately lead to the death of your dog if no immediate action is taken.
Keep in mind, that for cyanide poisoning to occur, a dog will have to chew open the cherry pits of a large number of cherry pits since cyanide is mostly present in the insides of the pit. In that case, it will be a cause for action.
But, since we cannot make out if the dog has chewed the cherry pits or gulped them down whole, it will be wise to take your pet to the vet right after you find out that he/she has gone through a whole bag of cherries.
Nutritional Value Of Cherries
Cherries are a refreshing and tasty treat. Although they are not recommended for dogs if you feed your pet the flesh part only, there are multiple nutrients your pet can benefit from. Here’s an insight into the nutritional values of cherries.
- Calories: 95
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fibers: 3.2 g (grams)
- Sugar: 19.2 g
- Calcium: 20 mg (milligrams)
- Iron: 0.5 mg
- Protein: 1.6 g (grams)
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Magnesium: 17 mg
- Potassium: 333 mg
- Vitamin C: 10.5 mg
- In trace amounts: Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Melatonin, Anthocyanin
One cup of cherries will contain the following nutritional content according to USDA. As you can see in the list above, sugar is extremely high in concentration in cherries in just a single cup. Sugar alone makes cherries a bad treat for your furry friend.
An excess of sugar in your pet’s diet can lead to a wide number of health issues, including:
- Increased risk of suffering from diabetes
- Decaying of teeth
- Creates inflammation in the entire body if fed in excess
- Digestive complications
- Immunity against diseases will also be compromised
- Lack of energy and willingness to move
- Obesity
- Muscle tone may also decrease
As you can see, there is a long list of consequences your dog will suffer from if he or she has too much sugar in its diet. So, due to this, it is certainly wise to keep your dogs away from cherries (even if it’s the flesh part alone) and other sugar-rich foods.
Different Types Of Cherries – Can Dogs Eat All Types Of Cherries?
Luckily, cherries are available in different types throughout the world. But does that mean certain types of cherries are better than others and considered safe for our dogs? Well, the answer to this depends on the type of cherry you’re considering.
Here’s an insight into different types of cherries and whether they are safe for your furry dog or not.
Can Dogs Have Maraschino Cherries?
Maraschino cherries are pit-free, meaning they do not have any cyanide-containing pit. So, the basic assumption would be to feed them to dogs since there are no toxins in them.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. If you have the same question, can dogs eat maraschino cherries? Here’s the answer for you.
Dogs cannot have maraschino cherries despite them being free from pits. This is because maraschino cherries are preserved after going through a specific process with certain additives like added sugars and other sweeteners, making them harmful for dogs.
The added sugars and sweeteners further increase the sugar content of cherries, thus significantly increasing the chances of your pet suffering from diabetes, obesity, and other sugar-related complications.
So, irrespective of how big or small your dog is, Maraschino cherries are a no-go for your furry friend even if its in small quantities.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Cherries?
Yes, dogs can eat dried cherries and they will absolutely love the dried and crunchy texture of dried cherries. But is it recommended to feed your dog dried cherries? Certainly not.
Dried cherries have little to no water content, which automatically increases the concentration of the other nutrients in it, including sugar. The higher sugar content can take a toll on your pet’s health if fed in excess.
Additionally, if you’re purchasing dried cherries from your local grocery stores, it might have other additives such as added sugar and corn syrup. Like Maraschino cherries, dried cherries to have a very high sugar concentration which makes them harmful for dogs.
To conclude, if your dog has one or two dried cherries without the seed part, there is nothing for you to be worried about. However, if it is more than 2 cherries and more than once a week, you should be concerned about your pet’s health.
If fed in excess, it will lead to tummy upset and other digestive complications, so it should be avoided, and other healthy fruits should be preferred instead.
Can Dogs Eat Black Cherries?
Yes, dogs can eat black cherries but in minimal amounts. They are relatively sweeter compared to regular cherries.
Black cherries also have a softer texture, but they too contain a pit that houses harmful toxins. Since black cherries are sweeter, the sugar content in them is also greater, making them significantly unsafe for your furry friend.
If you still intend to give a new flavor to the taste buds of your furry friend, you need to remove the pit, leaves, and the stem part of the black cherry and only feed the flesh of black cherry to your pet dog.
Make sure you do not feed more than one or two and not more than once a month.
Can Dogs Eat Wild Cherries?
The short answer is yes, but only one or two cherries at max. Wild cherries, just like regular cherries, too, contain cyanide and a high amount of sugars. As you already know, cyanide is toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
Even if you remove the pit, leaves, and stem part, the sugar content alone in wild cherries is enough to make your pet sick. So, our recommendation would be to steer away from wild cherries at all.
Can My Dog Eat Fresh Cherries?
The short answer to this is yes. Dogs can eat fresh cherries but no more than once a month and just one or two cherries at a time. Fresh cherries too have harmful toxins and greater sugar content, thus making them unsafe for dogs.
Is Cherry Powder Safe For Dogs?
Cherry powder is simply a powdered form of organic cherries, which are processed naturally and converted into powder. To convert cherries into a powdered form, a large number of cherries would be needed to be ground.
Now, when it comes to feeding cherry powder to dogs, it is absolutely safe as long as you get dog-intended cherry supplements from a well-known brand. For ideal serving size and frequency, you need to go through the packaging/label of the cherry supplements or ask your local vet for directions.
Can Dogs Eat Cherry Pie?
Cherry pies are these delicious treats that people absolutely love. When you place cherry pie in front of your dog, he or she will be drooling just by the sight of it.
Your dog will most probably jump right at it but considering how a cherry pie is made and the amount of sugar added to it, it is simply not recommended for your dog.
The added amounts of sugar are harmful for your pet’s health and should be avoided at all costs. If fed as part of your dog’s diet, it will lead to obesity, digestive discomfort, and in severe cases, it will also lead to diabetes. Due to this, it is certainly not worth risking your pet’s health.
Are Cherry Trees Poisonous To Dogs?
Yes! Cherry trees are significantly poisonous to dogs. Cherry trees and shrubs both contain cyanogenic glycosides. It is highly toxic to dogs and other animals as well. Cherry leaves on both trees and shrubs contain high amounts of cyanogenic glycoside in the purest form.
If your dog simply munches on a few leaves, it will immediately be exposed to cherry poisoning also referred to as cyanide poisoning. There are multiple symptoms of cyanide poisoning, including trouble breathing, dilated pupils, deep red-colored gums, and diarrhea.
If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should immediately rush your furry friend to animal poison control or to the local vet so that timely treatment could be made.
Can Dogs Eat Bing Cherries?
Technically, yes, your dog can eat Bing cherries. Bing cherries are a type of cherries and contain the same number of cyanogenic glycosides and high concentration of sugar. Due to this, it is strictly not recommended to feed your pet friend Bing cherries.
No pet owner would want their pet to be miserable just because of a few cherries so you’re better off with other healthy fruits and treats.
Tart Cherry Supplement For Dogs:
Tart cherry supplement for dogs are powdered cherries specifically intended for dogs. Your dog can safely eat tart cherry supplements without having to worry about cyanide poisoning or cherry poisoning.
These are intended for medicinal purposes and can greatly help improve the health of your dog in a number of ways. Ideally, tart cherry supplement for dogs can help improve their joint function by improving the flexibility.
In addition to this, these supplements are also a great means of providing antioxidants to your pet to help remove free radicals from their bodies.
Make sure to follow the printed instructions or get advice from your local vet on how to feed your dog tart cherry supplement.
Are Kwanzan Cherry Trees Toxic To Dogs?
Kwanzan Cherry Tree is a Japanese flowering cherry. It is smaller in size ranging up to 36’ in height which makes it easily distinguishable from other cherry trees. Kwanzan cherry trees contain cyanides in the leaves, stems, and the blossom part.
Due to the presence of cyanides in Kwanzan Cherry trees, it is highly toxic to dogs and can adversely affect the health conditions of your furry friend. Although it is highly unlikely that your pet will try munching on its leaves, but if that happens and you immediately put a stop to it, you shouldn’t be worried.
However, if your dog likes the taste of the leaves or the blossoms and simply eats a large amount, you should rush your pet for first aid and proper treatment by your vet.
Can Dogs Have Cherry Yogurt?
Unfortunately, no! Dogs cannot have cherry yogurt. Cherry yogurt or other flavored yogurt are commercially processed, and it is highly likely that they will contain a chemical compound referred to as xylitol. It is toxic to dogs and can take a toll on your pet’s health.
In addition to xylitol, cherry yogurt also contains other additives such as sugar, which further makes it harmful for your dog. But that’s not all, with cherry yogurt or other flavored yogurt, there are lactose issues that may affect your dog’s health.
So, to conclude, you should not feed your dog cherry or other types of flavored yogurt.
Also Read : Can Dogs Eat Plums?
Is Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Poisonous To Dogs?
Purple leaf sand cherry has bright red-purplish leaves and is poisonous to dogs if fed in large enough quantities. Yes, you read that correct, it is highly toxic to dogs and will adversely affect their health. So, if you have this plant in your yard, it is advisable to fence it or preventing your dog to not play near it.
Are Cherry Laurels Poisonous To Dogs?
Cherry laurels are scientifically referred to as Prunus laurocerasus. The leaves and the seed part of cherry laurel plant contain certain toxins (cyanides, hydrogen cyanide, prussic acid).
These are highly poisonous and life-threatening for dogs, and other pets like cats. In fact, it is toxic for us humans as well, so you need to keep your dog at a distance from it.
Are Cherry Seeds Poisonous To Dogs?
Cherry seeds too contain cyanides that are converted to prussic acid when ingested. These are significantly poisonous to dogs and can end up taking their life.
Apart from being potentially life-threatening, cherry seeds also pose a choking hazard and a potential intestinal blockage hazard.
All of these will make your pet miserable and lead to physical discomfort and pain that will be unbearable for your dog. To avoid risking your pet’s health, you should remove cherry seeds from your pet’s meals.
Can Dogs Eat Cherry Plums?
Considering just the plum part of cherries, dogs can safely eat them! Cherry plum produces hydrogen cyanide when ingested, but if fed in a limited serving size (1 – 2 cherry plums and no more than once a month) will not pose any health hazard to your dog.
However, if your dog eats more than 2 cherry plums in one serving, it will be exposed to high levels of hydrogen cyanide in its body. As a result, it will create breathing problems and ultimately lead to respiratory failure. All of this is certainly not worth risking your pet’s life so you should avoid feeding them cherry plums.
Can Dogs Eat Cherry Ice Cream?
The short answer is No, and here is why. Whether it is cherry-flavored ice cream or any other flavored ice cream, there are certain ingredients used in it that are harmful for dogs.
These include additive sugar and xylitol. Xylitol is a harmful compound and leads the release of insulin in the body of a dog.
As a result of this sudden insulin in the body, it straightaway drops the blood sugar levels of your pet. This further creates weakness, causes vomiting and may even lead to seizures in extreme cases. To avoid this altogether, it is wise to never give your doggo ice cream.
Can Dogs Eat Red Cherries?
No, dogs should not eat red cherries due to the presence of toxins in them. Even if you remove the pit, leaves, and the stem part, the flesh of the cherry has enough sugar to put your furry little one in physical discomfort.
There are plenty of other healthy alternatives that you can feed your pet, so don’t worry, your pet isn’t missing out on fruits.
Can Dogs Have Cherry Flavored Benadryl?
No, dogs cannot have cherry flavored Benadryl. It is a form of medication that contains alcohol as a secondary ingredient in it. Alcohol in general is toxic to dogs and will put your dog in severe pain. In addition to this, it also contains xylitol which serves the purpose of a sweetener.
It is also toxic to your dog, so you need to avoid giving your pet cherry-flavored Benadryl. A good rule of thumb is to avoid feeding your pet any sort of medication that contains xylitol. This will keep your pet out of harms way.
Can Dogs Have Cherry Juice?
The short answer to this is No! Dogs cannot have cherry juice and there’s a good reason behind it. Cherry juice, whether store-bought or made in home, contains a high concentration of sugar. The added sugar combined with the sugar content of cherries themselves pose a significant threat to your pet’s health.
If ingested, your pet will suffer from stomach aches, hyperactivity, and in the case of sugary foods in the diet of your pet, it will suffer from obesity and diabetes as well.
Can Dogs Eat Ground Cherries?
No, dogs should not be fed ground cherries as they are harmful to them. Ground cherries are yellowish or golden in color and have the same round appearance as of normal cherries.
These are part of the nightshade family, and as you might already know, the fruits from the night shade family contain high amounts of solanine in it.
Although the sweet and tart taste of ground cherries will be your pet’s new favorite, but due to the presence of solanine in it, you should avoid giving your dog ground cherries.
Ground cherries have the lethal amount of solanine and other toxins and their consumption could be fatal for dogs and even livestock and other pets.
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Cherries?
Sweet cherries have a relatively higher amount of sugar compared to sour cherries. Due to the added sweetness, it is not safe for dogs.
So, simply put, dogs cannot eat sweet cherries, even if it is merely just a few cherries. The sugar content in sweet cherries alone is harmful for your dog’s health and must be avoided.
Can Dogs Have Rainier Cherries?
No, dogs should not eat rainier cherries no matter how premium they are considered. Rainier cherries are a mix of Bing and Van cherries. These are special types of cherries that are produced by a cross of the two cultivars.
Since rainier cherries have the sweetest taste amongst the different types of cherries and also have the highest amount of sugar compared to other types, they are also more dangerous than the regular ones. So, rainier cherries are a big no go for dogs as they can get severely sick.
Can Dogs Eat Black Cherry Yogurt?
Black cherry yogurt, like other flavored yogurts are artificially sweetened by the addition of xylitol. As mentioned earlier, it is highly toxic for dogs and should never be a part of a dog’s meals.
If your dog eats black cherry yogurt, even in the smallest amount, it will adversely affect the liver of your dog. If the consumption is greater, it can also become a cause of liver failure since the entire liver tissue is going to be affected.
Concerning your dog’s well-being and health, it is advisable to stay away from black cherry yogurt or any type of flavored yogurt for that matter.
Can Dogs Eat Dark Cherries?
Since dark cherries have a rather mild taste, people may assume that they are safe for the consumption of dogs and other animals. However, despite the mild taste, they still contain cyanides, and a good amount of sugar.
Both of these are good reasons to stay away from dark cherries since they are strictly not worth risking your pet’s health.
Can Dogs Eat Tart Cherries?
Tart cherries, when consumed in small amounts with the pit, leaves, and the stem part removed, will do no harm to your furry friend. So, yes, your dog can have a few tart cherries once or twice a month and no more than (1 – 2 cherries).
However, if you increase the serving size or the serving frequency, your pet will suffer from an upset digestive system. It will make your pet physically uncomfortable and likely suffer from other health complications as well.
Can Dogs Have Tart Cherry Extract?
Yes, dogs can have tart cherry extract to receive its health benefits. However, for the tart cherry extract to be safe for your dog, you need to feed him/her commercially produced dog supplements that contain tart cherry extract.
You cannot simply get a tart cherry extract and serve it to your dog. It has to be in the form of dog supplement, otherwise, your dog will likely suffer from the health consequences.
Can Dogs Eat Seedless Cherries?
Yes! Dogs can eat seedless cherries. When you remove the seed (pit), the leaves, and the stem part of the cherries, you can serve it to your pet every now and then. The only thing you need to account for is the sugar content of cherries.
So, if your dog’s diet already contains sugar-based foods, it will be better if you limit your pet’s cherry intake to 1 – 2 cherries once a month. However, if your pet’s diet only contains a small portion of sugary foods, you can give him or her 1 – 2 cherries fortnightly.
Keep in mind that when you feed your pet seedless cherries, make sure to observe it for any adverse reactions just to be safe from cyanide poisoning or excess sugar problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If Dogs Eat Cherries?
If your dog eats cherries, the first thing you should do is see how many cherries your pet has had. For larger dogs, one or two cherries will do no harm. Whereas for smaller dogs, one or two cherries will be a cause of concern.
If you think your pet has gone through an entire bag of cherries or more than a couple of handfuls, the following problems may occur, so you should keep an eye out on your furry friend:
- The high sugar content will make your pet hyperactive. If fed more than a couple of times, it will also lead to obesity and diabetes in the worst cases.
- The toxins, namely cyanide, are essentially toxic to your pet and may end up being fatal for your pet. In cases where your pet eats a lot of cherries, your first course of action should be to take your dog to the local vet or animal poison control for immediate treatment.
- Cherry pits are very hard, so if your dog tries to break them down, it may lead to tooth damage.
What Happens If Dog Eats Cherry Pits?
If a dog eats cherry pits, it will lead to an obstruction in the intestines of your pet friend, which can be life-altering. In addition to this, the pit also poses a choking hazard, and it may get stuck in the respiratory tract of your pet. In either case, you will have to take your pet to the vet for further assessment and treatment.
What To Do If Your Dog Swallows A Whole Cherry?
If your dog swallows a whole cherry, the chances of intestinal blockage will increase since the cherry pit cannot be broken down by the stomach of your furry friend. It will pose an immediate threat to your pet’s life.
Safer Alternatives Of Cherries For Dogs
There are plenty of safe alternatives to cherries for dogs. These fruits are absolutely safe for your furry friend and will provide him with all the nutrition it needs for its day-to-day activities.
Just make sure you give these fruits to your furry friend in moderation and never in excess. This will ensure your pet stays healthy and benefits from the vitamins, antioxidants, and other mineral content in these fruits.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Cherries?
Can dogs eat cherries? Technically, yes! They can eat cherries. However, considering the health and safety of your dog, you should strictly avoid feeding them cherries of any kind. This is because cherries contain cyanides and high amounts of sugar.
Cyanide is toxic for your furry friend and will end up taking your pet’s life. On the other hand, the high sugar content in cherries will make your pet hyperactive, and obese, and may even cause diabetes if mixed with other sugar-rich foods.
Keep in mind, if your pet eats one or two cherries, it will be fine, and you should not worry. However, if it eats more than just a couple of cherries, you should immediately take your pet to the vet to begin its treatment and take steps for poison control.
If Your Dog Eats Cherries:
If you suspect your dog has eaten cherries, immediately remove any remaining cherries and plant parts and contact your veterinarian. If you act quickly, your veterinarian may be able to counteract the cyanide with sodium nitrate and sodium thiosulfate.
Sodium nitrate helps break the bond cyanide forms with the cellular enzyme. Next sodium thiosulfate will react with the cyanide to form a new compound that is excreted in the urine. The amount of the toxin your dog ingested will impact the chances that treatment succeeds.
