Cherry
CautionPitted cherry flesh is fine in small amounts, but the pits, stems and leaves carry cyanogenic glycosides. A dog that got into a bowl of unpitted cherries needs a call now — for obstruction and for cyanide.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Dilated pupils
- Difficulty breathing
- Brick-red gums or mucous membranes
- Panting
- Shock or circulatory failure
- Collapse
- Vomiting
- Intestinal blockage
- Abdominal pain
More about this food
Cherries have the widest gap between the edible part and everything else. The AKC's summary is blunt: cherry plants contain cyanide and are toxic to dogs, with the fleshy part around the pit as the exception. The ASPCA lists cherry (Prunus spp., family Rosaceae) as toxic to dogs, with stems, leaves and seeds containing cyanide and being particularly toxic in the process of wilting, and lists brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock as clinical signs. Pet Poison Helpline puts it most clearly of all: all parts of these plants other than the ripe pulp around the seeds are considered toxic and contain cyanide.
What makes cherries riskier than other stone fruit is how people eat them. A peach is one pit at a time; cherries come by the bowlful, pits and stems included. A dog that gets the bowl can swallow a dozen pits at once, and some of them get crunched. Pet Poison Helpline explains that if the pit is chewed and crushed, cyanide may be released, while a pit swallowed whole without being broken open is not expected to cause poisoning — but stomach upset and a potential gastrointestinal foreign body may follow depending on the size of the pet and the number of whole pits ingested.
Cyanide works by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase, the enzyme cells need to use oxygen. That is why the gums look bright red while the dog struggles to breathe. Merck notes that signs of acute cyanide poisoning generally appear within 15 to 20 minutes to a few hours, and that survival after the onset of signs is rarely more than two hours. That timeline is why this is not a wait-until-morning situation.
Note your dog's weight, roughly how many cherries and pits, whether stems and leaves came with them, and the time. Then call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home. Ornamental cherry, chokecherry and wild black cherry in the yard are the same genus, and a storm-downed branch with wilting leaves is the most toxic form of it, so clear those before the dog finds them. Maraschino cherries carry no cyanide risk but are essentially candy.
Frequently asked questions
- Can my dog have a pitted cherry?
- A couple of ripe cherries with the pit and stem fully removed are fine. The AKC treats the flesh as the exception to an otherwise toxic plant. Cherries are sugary, so stop at a few and keep all treats within 10% of daily calories.
- My dog ate a handful of cherries with the pits in. What now?
- Call now. Crushed pits can release cyanide, and whole pits can obstruct the gut, especially in a small dog. Tell your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435 your dog's weight, how many, whether stems and leaves were included, and the time.
- What about the cherry tree in my yard?
- Treat the tree as the hazard, not just the fruit. The ASPCA notes stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide and are particularly toxic while wilting, so clear fallen fruit and any downed branches, and keep your dog away from prunings.