Can Dogs Eat Cherries? Are Cherries Good For Dogs?

Are you aware that your dog can also enjoy many of the fruits you eat regularly, just as much? Fruits like apples, pears, watermelon, and many others are typically OK for your pet to eat. This still doesn’t negate the fact that some foods and fruits are not entirely dog-friendly. So, can dogs eat cherries? 

Dogs are not picky eaters, so they would love to eat just about anything their owners are eating. Once they observe you eating it with so much satisfaction, their next instinct would be to try it with you. 

Either way, as we do not categorize cherries as an ideal snack for dogs, there are certain things to watch out for if your dog must have cherries.

Read through for a heads-up on what you need to watch out for while feeding your dog cherries.

Can Dogs Eat Cherries? 

We can simply give the question, “Can dogs eat cherries?” the answer “no.” If they must have cherries, then feed them with caution. Cherries contain some beneficial nutrients and some negative properties. The risk, however, is arguably way more than the benefits.

As much as cherries are not the most appropriate treat for your dog to enjoy, this does not mean your dog cannot eat cherries occasionally.

However, while attempting to please your pet, you must closely supervise their feeding of this attractive fruit. You don’t want your dog swallowing the pits or eating the stems. These parts of the fruit contain cyanide, a toxic substance that could be fatal to your dog’s health.

These tasty stone fruits can cause a choking accident, as the pits and seeds cannot be swallowed.

You might also like to read this: Can Dogs Eat Peanuts? Pet Food And Tips

What Kind Of Cherries Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs can eat unprocessed cherries, but with a lot of caution during preparation and no pits. Fresh cherries have a high recommendation rate if your dog must eat peanuts because of their high water content and fewer calories pound for pound.

Fruits that contain a lot of water are strongly advised not only for humans but for your canine pets as well. They are effective for pets with obesity challenges. Still, make sure to take out the stems, leaves, and seeds before feeding them to your dog.

Maraschino cherries don’t have any poisonous stones, but they do contain a high level of sugar content. They are sweetened with tons of sugar and are often used in drinks and desserts. This extra sugar could cause diarrhea and make the dog’s tummy ache.

Processed or dried cherries are laden with too many sugars, flavors, and/or dyes. These make them unsafe for dogs, especially puppies, who are more vulnerable to stomach upset and poisoning. 

Are Cherries Good For Dogs?

Cherries are okay for our four-legged friends in small quantities with their pits removed. The flesh and skin of cherries are out to do your pet no harm. Even at that, we don’t advise you to give your dog cherries without caution. 

This is because cherry fruit, without stems or seeds, is safe for dogs to eat. But these other components of the cherry, the seed, stem, and leaves contain small quantities of toxins called cyanogenic glycoside, popularly known as cyanide. 

These toxins can be released and poison the dog when it is broken and chewed. The possibility of your furry pet choking on it accompanies this hazard. 

If possible, do not allow your dog to have the cherries at all to avoid getting used to them. They could probably end up taking them anywhere they see fit, with or without your permission.

In fact, your dog would have to eat many cherries to actually get any significant health benefit from them, which could also yield negative results, as many cherries could harm your dog.

How Many Cherries Can A Dog Eat?

There is no problem with giving your dog a few cherries. With no pits and stems, of course. Though moderation here goes without saying, just in case you are wondering how many cherries would kill or severely harm your pet.

Moreover, in the case of cyanide poisoning, a lot of fruits, including apples, peaches, and cherries, contain cyanide, but your dog would have to eat a lot of cherries before certain dire symptoms show up.

For instance, if your dog eats an entire bag of cherries or more, chews them up or crunches open the seeds and ingest several, then it would be a genuine concern.

So, if you have a cherry tree in your backyard where your dog can get to eat as much as it wants without being watched, you might want to keep your beloved pet far from it or get rid of it entirely.

Even though your dog may have eaten a cherry or two in the past and felt fine afterward, they can do a lot more harm than good and usually aren’t worth the risks.

Can Dogs Eat Cherries With Pits?

Dogs must not eat cherry pits. However, do not panic as there is just a little damage that one single cherry pit can do to your dog. Apricot pits and big peach pits carry more toxins than can be identified in cherries.

Nevertheless, if your dog consumes a significant amount of cherries, with pits and all, it could cause irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. It could also block up your god’s intestines and cause choking dilemmas.

Furthermore, cyanide poisoning is a very strong possibility if your dog eats cherries with its pits. Cyanide breaks off the dog’s respiratory system and as such cannot effectively carry oxygen to cells. Intense symptoms will include breathing difficulties, dilated pupils, red gums, possible shock, and potential death.

At this point, do not hesitate to call your veterinary doctor for further immediate attention to avoid impending danger.

Can Dogs Eat Cherries And Strawberries?

Cherries pose a high-risk potential for your furry friend. Apart from being full of problematic cautions, they do not contain significantly important nutrients and, as such; they are not worth the risk.

On the other hand, your dogs can eat strawberries, which is a healthy and preferable substitute.

Alternatives for cherries include blueberries, apples, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, and so many more. There are so many fruits and vegetables your pup may enjoy, you could as well check out easier and safer ways to feed your dog.

As interesting as cherries can be, it’s wise to just forego them and offer your pup a healthy snack of safer fruits and vegetables that provide excellent health benefits without the enormous risks.

Check out other fruits dogs can eat: Can Dogs Eat Watermelon? Is Watermelon Safe For Dogs?

Can Dogs Eat Cherries Without Seeds?

The seeds and stems of cherries are harmful to dogs’ health. Even without the seeds, cherries are still not recommended for your dog to eat because the benefits do not equal the risk you take while feeding cherries to your dog.

Cherries’ seeds and stems are toxic. They have cyanogenic glycosides in their seeds and stems (cyanide). Even though the toxin’s concentration is minimal, it’s not worth the danger.

The poison is only produced when the stems and seeds are chewed and broken. There’s a chance that if a dog consumes enough cherries, including the seeds and stems, he’ll die.

There’s always the possibility that your dog will eat them intact, but then you have to worry about the seeds causing your dog discomfort and gastrointestinal issues.

Can Dogs Eat Cherries Safely?

On their own, your dogs may not be able to eat cherries safely. They will eventually chow down on the pits and stems without caution.

Cherries have never been a good match for dogs and are unnecessary for their diet. Remove any meal that poses such a high risk from the menu. Dogs rarely seek and scavenge for fruits, so I don’t think they’d have a problem with it.

The only way a dog can eat cherries safely would be to eat the flesh alone. The stems and seeds would have to be removed to avoid poisoning and stomach blockage. Even as such, cherries do not make a safe treat, and it is better to avoid them entirely.

FAQs

Conclusion

Dogs enjoy sweet fruits, but some are more dangerous than others. As a result, you should always consult your veterinarian before adding new food to your dog’s regular diet. Your veterinarian is familiar with your dog’s health needs and will recommend the proper amounts.

Dog diets should comprise nutritious, well-balanced dog food, with treats accounting for only 10% of total daily caloric consumption. Obesity and diabetes might result if you eat too much.

Start with fresh organic cherries if you want to give your dog cherries. To avoid choking or obstruction hazards, rinse them and remove the pit, stem, and leaves before slicing the cherry flesh into little pieces.

You can give the cherry pieces to your dog whole after de-pitting, or mix a couple with other fresh fruits like strawberries, pineapple, or apples in plain yogurt. Make a nice smoothie with them, or serve them as a hydrating fruit salad that your dog will love. Just make sure that the fresh cherries aren’t the star of the show.

References

• dailypaws.com – what can dogs eat
• pumpkin.care– can dogs eat cherries
• nativepet.com – can my dog eat cherries