Can Dogs Eat Cherries? Here is what you need to know
It’s not recommended to feed your dog cherries. While dogs may enjoy eating any type of food, not all foods are good for them, and some can even make them sick. So, can dogs eat cherries? Read on to learn everything you need to know about dogs and cherries. Let’s get started!
Can dogs eat cherries?
It’s best not to feed cherries to dogs. While they can eat cherries, your dog may end up getting hurt more than they benefit from them. The seeds in cherries are toxic to dogs.
Are cherries good for dogs?
Cherries do contain some beneficial vitamins and minerals. The cherry flesh contains antioxidants such as β-carotene, choline, and more.
Cherries also contain minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and they are low in calories and high in fiber. Cherries also contain vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
Dangers of feeding cherries to dogs
The main problem with cherries is the cherry pit (or seed). In addition to the pit, the stems and leaves of cherries are also harmful to dogs. All of these parts of the cherry contain cyanide, which is a powerful toxin.
Cyanide is toxic to both humans and dogs. While dogs can eat a small amount of unprocessed cherries, such as one or two cherries, you should be careful to remove the leaves, stems, and seeds.
If dogs consume large amounts of these parts of the cherry tree, they can suffer from cyanide poisoning.
Cherries are low in calories but high in sugar. One cherry contains about 1 gram of sugar, while one cup of cherries contains 18 grams of sugar.
If your dog doesn’t chew cherry pits, tree leaves, etc., they can cause intestinal blockages. For small dogs, there is a risk of choking on the pits.
Cherry pits have a hard outer shell, making it difficult for your dog to break them. If your dog tries to break them, it can lead to dental damage.
If you have a cherry orchard, your dog may run into the garden and eat fermented and rotten cherries. These rotten cherries contain alcohol, which is known to be harmful to dogs.
What cherries are safe for dogs to eat?
All types of cherries contain cyanide, including Rainier, Bing, Black, Red, and Morello cherries. Because they contain toxins, cherries are not safe for your dog. It’s best to avoid giving your dog cherries.
What happens if my dog eats a whole cherry?
If your dog accidentally eats one or two cherries, including the pit, it’s okay. However, as a responsible pet parent, you need to keep an eye on your puppy for symptoms of intestinal blockage, diarrhoea, etc.
However, even one cherry pit can cause intestinal blockage and cyanide poisoning in smaller dogs.
Can dogs eat different forms of cherries?
It’s best to avoid giving cherries, even those flavoured with real cherries, to dogs. These cherry-flavoured foods are high in sugar, and most commercial foods contain preservatives such as added sugar and xylitol.
Therefore, it may cause many digestive problems for your dog. Do not give your dog other forms of cherries, such as dried cherries or cherry syrup, etc!