Alice White
Whether sweet or sour: cherries are popular fruits that dogs also taste very good. But are cherries healthy for dogs or possibly even poisonous? Here you can find out whether it is good to eat cherries with your dog.
Can Dogs Have Cherries?
Yes, dogs can eat cherries. Both sweet and sour cherries taste good to many dogs and are also healthy. Sweet red fruits contain many vitamins, especially vitamin B and vitamin C, but also other important nutrients such as folic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
All of these nutrients are considered health-promoting and contribute to the healthy development of bones and teeth in dogs. For this reason, cherries are particularly suitable for puppies, as the young dogs are supplied with many important minerals through the fruit.
Are Cherry Stones Poisonous to Dogs?
The pulp of cherries is safe for dogs. However, there is a danger lurking in the sweet fruits: the cherry pit. Cherrystones contain cyanide or hydrogen cyanide. This is a poisonous substance that escapes from the cherry pit if the core is damaged.
Hydrocyanic acid can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, salivation or even shortness of breath if consumed in excess. If the dog consumes large amounts of hydrogen cyanide, it can also lead to more severe poisoning. Make sure you only give your dog pitted cherries. Also, keep your dog from picking up and eating cherries under a tree while walking, as chewing tends to damage the stone.
Dog Ate Whole Cherries – What Now?
If the dog has eaten cherries with stones, this is not necessarily causing panic. Depending on the dog’s size, weight, and state of health, larger amounts of hydrogen cyanide are required to cause poisoning. However, if typical symptoms of hydrocyanic acid poisoning occur – in particular vomiting, shortness of breath, and cramps – consult a veterinarian immediately!
