Use caution

Can dogs eat cherries?

Q: Can dogs eat cherries?

Use caution. Can dogs eat cherries? The flesh is safe, but the pits, stems and leaves contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide, so only feed pitted, stemless cherries. Remove the pit, stem and leaves before serving, and avoid canned or maraschino cherries. If your dog ate pits, stems or leaves, call your vet right away.

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Use caution

Quick answer

Can dogs eat cherries? The flesh is safe, but the pits, stems and leaves contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide, so only feed pitted, stemless cherries.

What to do

What to do if your dog ate cherries

Remove the pit, stem and leaves before serving, and avoid canned or maraschino cherries. If your dog ate pits, stems or leaves, call your vet right away.

Protocol3 steps

If your pet already ate it

01
Note what and how much
Work out roughly how much was eaten and when. Keep the packaging or any leftovers to show your vet.
02
Call your vet or poison control
Have your pet's weight, age, health history and medications ready. Fees may apply for poison control.
03
Do not induce vomiting at home
Only make your pet vomit if a vet or poison control tells you to. Home remedies can cause more harm.

Sources3 references

Toxicology

Flesh: Safe for dogs
Pits, stems and leaves: Contain amygdalin, which is metabolized to cyanide; chewing a pit releases it
Obstruction: Pits, stems and leaves are a choking and intestinal blockage risk; whole cherries can choke small dogs
Serving size, 2–3 times a week: 2–10 lb: 1 cherry; 11–20 lb: 2; 21–50 lb: 3; 51–90 lb: 4; 91 lb and up: 5
Treat limit: Treats should make up no more than 10% of the daily diet
Maraschino and canned: Not toxic, but added sugar and preservatives; PetMD says to avoid them
Cyanide signs: Panting, hyperventilation, trouble breathing, drooling, bright red gums, dilated pupils, vomiting, tremors, seizures, collapse
Dose: No toxic pit count is given; it depends on the dog's size and whether the pits were chewed

Source: PetMD: Can dogs eat cherries? (reviewed by Jennifer Coates, DVM)

What a vet visit can cost

National averages for the parts of an emergency visit for a dog:

Emergency exam$135
Bloodwork: chemistry panel$164
Bloodwork: complete blood count$104
IV catheter and one bag of fluids$130
One night in hospital (general clinic)$619

Sources: RexVet: 2026 emergency vet costs (CareCredit national averages, 2025); Pet Poison Helpline: $99 per-incident fee; ASPCA Animal Poison Control: consultation fee may apply. Averages, not quotes: your clinic and region will differ.

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Disclaimer: This is general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different; if yours has health conditions or ate something unusual, contact your vet. Spotted a mistake? Email petbudgetcalculator@gmail.com.