Mary Allen
Spring, summer and fall bring us heaps of delicious and healthy fruits.
Cherries are very popular and we dog lovers wonder if dogs can eat cherries too?
In this article you will find out whether the red stone fruit is intended for feeding your four-legged friend or whether it is better for him to keep his paws off it.
In a nutshell: Can my dog eat cherries?
Yes, dogs can eat cherries! However, there is an invisible danger hidden in the cherry stone: hydrocyanic acid. That’s why you should never feed your dog whole cherries. Before you feed your dog cherries, you need to remove the pit, stalk, and leaves.
Are cherries poisonous to dogs or just the pits?
Cherries are generally not toxic to dogs, only the amygdalin contained in the cherry stone in large quantities, which is converted to hydrocyanic acid in the dog’s digestive tract.
Aside from the associated dangers, cherries are actually very healthy for dogs.
So let’s take a look at the nutritional values of the cherry below.
Nutritional Information of Cherries
The pulp of the cherry contains many vitamins and minerals that your dog will also benefit from:
- Vitamin A
- vitamin B
- vitamin C
- folic acid
- antioxidants
- magnesium
- calcium
Dog swallowed cherry pit, now what?
The hydrocyanic acid contained in the cherry stone is only released when the stone is chewed. So if your dog accidentally swallowed a cherry with the pit, that doesn’t mean that the hydrocyanic acid will escape immediately.
In this case, keep your dog under observation and take a close look at the output – if the core comes out as a whole, you don’t have to worry.
Attention danger!
Prussic acid poisoning is no joke! If your dog shows symptoms such as excessive salivation, trembling, cramps, bright red mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, an increased heart rate or dilated pupils, contact a veterinarian immediately!
Intestinal obstruction from cherries?
Another danger slumbers in the cherry pit: swallowing the hard pits can lead not only to life-threatening poisoning but also to an equally life-threatening intestinal obstruction.
Special caution is required here, especially with small dogs!
How can I feed my dog cherries?
Once you’ve removed the pit, stem, and leaves from the cherry, you can give it to your dog to eat.
As with all fruits and vegetables, cherries are not a main part of your dog’s diet, but only offer an occasional change in the dog’s bowl.
Make sure the fruit is fresh and ripe. At best, you bought them in organic quality so as not to burden yourself and your dog with harmful substances.
Before feeding, you should also wash the fruit thoroughly and, if necessary, puree it so that your dog can better utilize the nutrients it contains.
Conscientiously portioned, your dog can benefit from the many vitamins and nutrients in the cherry.
Attention danger!
An appropriate amount always depends on your dog’s height and weight. Too many cherries can cause diarrhea and gas.
Can dogs eat cherries from the garden?
Some fruits and vegetables develop strange properties when grown, such as zucchini, which becomes inedible and bitter in the vicinity of ornamental gourds.
This is not the case with cherries. You can also offer your dog cherries from your own garden. The same rules apply here as for bought cherries.
Well meant advice:
If you have fruit trees in your yard, don’t let your dog feast on fallen fruit to its heart’s content. Some dogs don’t feel full and will literally eat until they vomit.
Can all dogs eat cherries?
No, not all dogs should eat cherries.
Since the red fruit is high in fructose, overweight dogs and those prone to obesity or diabetes should not eat cherries.
Even puppies should eat cherries with caution – but mainly because of the danger posed by the pits.
Can dogs eat sour cherries?
In addition to the sweet cherry, there is also a sour version. This contains less fructose and more fruit acid than the sweet cherry.
Nutritionally, the two are almost identical. For fat dogs, the low-sugar version is a good alternative so that you don’t have to do without cherries completely.
Can dogs eat morello cherries?
The morello cherry, also known as the large long solder cherry or northern cherry, is a variety of sour cherry. All cherries are stone fruits and belong to the rose family.
Accordingly, dogs are also allowed to eat morello cherries, but only as fresh, ripe fruit. The same feeding recommendations apply here as for other cherry varieties.
Morello cherries are often found preserved in jars. In this form they are not suitable for feeding dogs!
This is important when feeding your dog cherries
Does your dog love cherries? You are welcome to make him happy with it from time to time!
Fed in moderation, cherry pulp is very healthy for dogs. However, the cherry stones pose a double risk.
Cherry pits contain amygdalin, which is converted to hydrocyanic acid in dogs’ digestive tracts. Chewing on the seeds releases the toxic acid and can be life-threatening for your dog.
An intestinal obstruction can also be the result of swallowing the cherry stones. Puppies and small dogs in particular are at risk here!
So before your dog eats cherries, you need to make sure they are free of pits. Also, remove the stem and leaves and wash the cherries thoroughly.
Do you still have questions about feeding cherries? Please leave us a comment below this article.