Cherries are one of the favorite fruits of almost everyone. When you eat cherries in front of your dog, your dog will also be attracted to cherries due to their delicious red color and tiny look. And your dog will surely demand cherry from you. At this point, you question yourself that can dogs eat cherries? The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. Because the cherry flesh is safe for the dog, but if given in moderation, the seed and stalk of the cherry are not safe for the dog.
Before we talk about the effects and side effects of cherries on the dog, we will first discuss cherries and their nutritional value.
What Are Cherries?
Cherries are fruit rich in nutrients; these are commonly red in color. Cherries are actually in two types of taste: the sweet taste and the tarty taste. The tart cherries are generally used in baking and cooking or add to the cakes. And the sweet cherries are eaten as a snack. You can not keep them for a long time, but you buy them fresh, and you have to snack on them.
Nutritional Value Of Cherries
The cherries are highly nutritious, as it contains many vitamins and minerals inside it. It is also low-fat fruit. The number of calories present in the 100 grams of cherries is 50 calories. Other essential nutrients present in 100 grams of cherries are as follows:
| Nutrients | Value in grams | %age daily value |
| Total fat | 0.3 grams | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 3 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 173 mg | 4% |
| Dietary fibers | 1.6 grams | 6% |
| Sugar | 8 grams | |
| Protein | 1 gram | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 16% | |
| Iron | 1% | |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0% | |
| Magnesium | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1% |
Are Cherries Safe For The Dog?
The flesh of cherries is entirely safe for the dog, but still, you should give it to the dog in moderation. The stalk and seed of the cherries are not safe for the dogs. So, when you provide a cherry to the dog, you have to be very careful as you should remove the stalk and the seed of the cherry. It can cause poisoning, food pipe blockage, and other health issues to the dog.
Benefits Of Cherries To Dogs
The cherries can provide several health benefits to the dog as it contains the essential nutrients for the dog. The main health benefits of cherries to the dog are as follows:
Anti-inflammatory
The cherries have anti-inflammatory effects. Due to which it can protect your dog from joints inflammation and other kinds of inflammation in the body. So, it improves the movement of the dog.
Antioxidants
The antioxidants are also present in the cherries. These antioxidants are beneficial to make your dog feel younger and active. Because the antioxidants are helpful to fight against the free radicals produced as a result of cell damage. It also prevents your dog from cancer.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is beneficial to maintain good eye vision and also helps in maintaining a healthy nervous system. So, if you are providing the cherries to your dog in the ideal amount, you can enjoy many health benefits of cherries.
The Reason Why Cherries Can Be Bad For The Dogs
The cherries are a very healthy and nutritious food, the fleshy part of cherries is not toxic, but the leaves stalk, and the pit of the cherry is not suitable for the dog’s health.
Cyanide Poisoning
Because the stalk, leaves, and pit of the cherries contain cyanide. Cyanide is a toxic substance, which can cause poisoning in the dog. If your dog has eaten cherry along with pit and your dog suffers from the poisoning, you can observe the following symptoms of illness in the dog:
- Bright red gums
- Difficult breathing
- Widened pupils
- Diarrhea
- Collapse
- Seizures
- Death
When you see the above symptoms of illness in your dog, you have to rush to the vet’s clinic as quickly as possible. Because if you waste time, this cyanide poisoning can lead to the death of the dog.
Intestinal Blockage
By eating cherries, your dog can also suffer from intestinal blockage. If your dog has eaten the cherries and suffering from intestinal blockage, you can observe the following symptoms in your dog:
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Food Pipe Blockage
The dogs will wolf down the food quickly as they see the food. And in the case of cherries, your dog will promptly engulf them, and by doing this, your dog can suffer from the food pipe blockage. This food pipe blockage can be so severe as it can cause the death of the dog.
What If My Dog Overeats Cherries?
If your dog has engulfed one or two cherries without the stalk and pits, it will not be hazardous for the dog. But if your dog has eaten too many cherries, you must keep an eye on your dog and if you observe the above symptoms of illness in your dog, just quickly move to the vet’s clinic. So that your dog gets the proper treatment of disease in time.
Serving Tips Of Cherries To Dogs
If you want to share the cherries with your dog, you can serve them to the dog in the following ways:
- Start with the fresh cherries.
- Wash the cherries thoroughly, remove the cherry pits and stalk, cut the cherry into smaller pieces, and give it t the dog.
- Do not give a whole cherry to the dog at first.
- You can also add the cherry to the fruit salad after cutting it into smaller pieces.
- Do not give the preserved cherries to the dog because it can cause health issues to the dog.
While giving cherries to the dog, you must keep in mind that you don’t provide too many cherries at once to dog. Because it can cause serious health issues to the dog. Don’t give cherry along with the pit and stalk. Because there is cyanide present in the pits and stalk of the cherries, which can cause cyanide poisoning in the dog.
FAQs
How many cherries can kill a dog?
Generally, a single cherry pit contains about 0.17 grams of cyanide. And if your dog has eaten 2 cherry pits, it can cause the death of the dog. But still, the strength of illness due to cyanide poisoning depends on the dog’s size, age, breed, and physiology.
How many cherries does a dog manage to eat?
One or two cherries without the pits and stalk will be safe for the dog to eat. Because it can not cause serious health issues to the dog. But if you talk to the vet, you will be more confirmed about the number of cherries safe for the dog according to your dog’s physiology.
Is cherry pit harmful to the dog?
Yes, the cherry pit is dangerous for the dog’s health. The flesh of the cherry is non-toxic. But the pit contains cyanide, and this cyanide in the pit of cherry can cause cyanide poisoning in the dog. The cherry pit is also hard and can cause food pipe blockage in the dog. Both of these conditions are dangerous as these can lead to the death of the dog.
Conclusion
The cherries are highly nutritious fruit. These are loved by almost everyone, but it is not entirely safe for the dog. The answer to the question that can dog eat cherries is in between yes and no. because the flesh of cherry is safe for the dog till it is given in moderation, and the pits leaves and stalk of the cherries contains cyanide which can cause the cyanide poisoning and other health issues in the dog. So you have to be very conscious if you are thinking of giving the cherries to the dog.
It will be the act of a wise pet owner if you talk to the dog’s vet before you give the cherry or anything for the first time to the dog. Because if you speak to vet, he will clear all the doubts about effects and side effects of cherries on your dog according to its physiology. Because the impact of food changes according to the breed, age, size, and physiology of the dog.
