Are Cherries Poisonous to Dogs?

If you have a dog, you might be familiar with looking down from your meal or midday snack to find them staring up at you. They yearn. They whimper and beg as if they’ve never had a meal in their life. And if you’re weak-willed enough, you might find yourself giving in, depending on what you’re eating.

You know that dogs can’t have chocolate. But there are certain vegetables that they can eat, right? And how about fruit? Are cherries poisonous to dogs?

The answer is yes and no. Cherries contain beneficial vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, but the flesh itself could upset the stomach of your furry friend. And other parts of the cherry -- including the pit, stem, and leaves -- actually contain cyanide. It’s not enough to cause any real damage unless they are eaten in large enough quantities, but even a few cherry pits can cause intestinal obstruction.

So are cherries poisonous to dogs? Hypothetically, if you were to take a single cherry and remove the pit, leaves, and stem, you could probably feed it to your dog without a problem. The real question is whether you want to go through that amount of trouble to give them a taste of something that ultimately won’t improve their diet.

If your dog does eat one or a few whole cherries, the results shouldn’t be too bad. The reaction will be mild for most breeds. But if you’re living with the smaller dog, you should check for constipation or vomiting, which could be signs of blockage.

Overall, if you’re wondering, “Are cherries poisonous to dogs?” you should play it safe and avoid them. There are many better alternatives for fruity snacks to give to your dog. So no matter how hard they beg, keep your cherries to yourself. You’ll be doing both of you a favor!