Can dogs eat cherries?
When summer comes and the trees are full of delicious red cherries, your dog looks at you with big, round eyes, wishing to nibble on some of those sweet fruits. But can dogs eat cherries? The answer is: Yes, BUT...
How to properly feed cherries to your dog
Cherries are generally safe for dogs. Just like for you, the red flesh is rich in vitamins and minerals. Cherries contain a lot of vitamin B and C, magnesium, →calcium, and folic acid. All these nutrients support your dog's →healthy diet and make cherries a tasty and healthy snack for him. However, cherries should of course be fed in moderation and not in excess, as they can lead to →stomach aches.
It is important that you (just like with →watermelons) remove the pits beforehand. Simply giving your dog cherries and hoping that the pits will be expelled is unfortunately not a good idea. You should also ensure that he does not pick up any or too many cherries from the ground.
The reason: An excessive consumption of (bitten) cherry pits can have toxic effects and cause severe poisoning symptoms in your dog. This is because cherry pits contain a very high percentage of cyanide, which is toxic to both humans and animals. Therefore, always feed cherries without pits and preferably also without stems and leaves!
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Informier dich vorher gut: Manches Obst ist für deinen Vierbeiner ein gesunder Snack, andere Lebensmittel sind giftig!
My dog ate cherries from the ground - what now?
Is your dog a real vacuum cleaner and must inhale everything that lies on the ground? If your four-legged friend eats a few cherries including pits from the ground during your walks or in the garden, it’s not a big deal at first. Depending on how many cherry(pits) he has eaten and whether he even bit them, the pits may not be immediately toxic. The cherry pits only release the dangerous cyanide when they are bitten.
So if your dog swallowed cherry pits whole, keep an eye on his droppings. If the pits come out completely, you usually don’t need to worry. He may also experience →constipation. If your dog has a bit of a stomach ache and/or wants to stimulate digestion, it may also be that he eats more →grass.
If you are unsure, treat your dog to a tasty and healthy snack specifically for dogs.
Gesund und lecker verwöhnen - mit unseren Snacks
Symptoms of cyanide poisoning
If your dog is acting strangely or shows the following symptoms, you should quickly go to the veterinarian!
- Dog is drooling and vomiting
- Breathing is labored
- Mucous membranes are red and bluish
- Breath smells of bitter almonds
- Dog's pupils are dilated
As always: If you are unsure, go directly to a clinic. Sometimes just a call to the veterinarian is enough.
