If you are thinking of giving cherries to your dogs as treat or sharing cherries with your pup as you eat them, that’s probably not the best idea. There’s a very straightforward answer to the question “can dogs eat cherries”. And it’s one every dog owner needs to know!
Can Dogs Eat Cherries?
NO!! Dogs cannot eat cherries, and it is not a good food to give to your doggo.
Unlike other fruits, cherries are not good for dogs. While cherries offer some nutritional value to dogs, these little fruits can actually do more harm than good for your pup. This is why it is best not to give them cherries at all.
Cherries Are Toxic To Dogs
Most parts of cherries such as the pits, stems, and leaves contain cyanide. This is a toxic substance and can lead to dog poisoning especially if consumed in large quantities.
Now, okay, to be fair one or two cherries might not hurt your dog. But with so many other great foods that don’t contain cyanide in them, why take the risk, right?
In addition to that, cherry pits can also cause intestinal obstruction which in turn can lead to some serious complications for your dog. Even if your dog does not eat the pit, the cherry fruit itself can also cause some gastrointestinal upset.
If your dog accidentally eats cherries look out for signs of cyanide poisoning. This will include difficulty in breathing, dilated pupils, and bright red gums. In some cases, if the poisoning is severe, your dog can immediately go into shock.
Smaller quantities of cherries might not cause poisoning, but as previously mentioned, it can cause an upset stomach for dogs. Therefore you should look for symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms will show in as early as 24 hours within consumption. If you notice these symptoms on your dog, it is best to give your vet a call or visit a vet immediately. Treatment for cherry poisoning in dogs varies depending on the case. Your vet will know what to do best.
If you are looking for other fruits to give your pups, check out our list of human foods you can feed your pup.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Please check out other articles in the series including Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
