Is it ok for a dog to eat cherries? Basically no, they should not! Even if your dog has eaten some before, and he seemed fine.
A lot of fruits are safe as well as healthy for your dog, but even though cherries have a few nutrients that are beneficial, they also can cause harm for dogs, so they are not worth risky their health. There are lots of other people foods you an share with your pup but check with your veterinarian before doing it.
Here is some info on why cherries are not good for dogs to eat:
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Cherries?
Cherries can poison dogs if they eat a lot of them because the seeds, leaves, and stems have cyanide in them.
There’s likely not enough cyanide in one or two cherries to cause a bad problem, but you shouldn’t take the risk of possible poisoning. There are lots of other foods you can you’re your dog that provides any sort of vitamins and minerals cherries might provide.
Additionally, a cherry seed could cause an obstruction in your dog’s intestines. This issue is the number one problem your dog could have if he eats cherries. This is very serious and could end up causing horrible complications.
Even if your dog doesn’t eat the cherry seed, cherries may still cause them to suffer stomach upset and nausea.
Does this include Maraschino Cherries, Seedless Cherries, Or Food flavored with cherries?
Maraschino cherries are very sweet fruit seen sometimes in mixed drinks. They don’t have seeds and at times they also have had their stems removed.
The major trouble is maraschino cherries have a lot of sugar, and that’s bad for your dog. If they eat a lot of sugar they could get fat or develop diabetes long range, as well as stomach issues short range.
Seedless cherries without stems could be a safer option for your dog. They have good nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, as well as antioxidants and fiber and melatonin.
So, there’s lot of different fruits and other food that isn’t as risky as cherries. And you do not have to worry about getting rid of the seeds in most of them! For instance, you can give them apples that have been cored and the seeds removed, as they have vitamins and fiber. Or try some blueberries as they also have a lot of antioxidants.
Not all dogs can eat fruit though since they have sugar in them and could cause an upset tummy. And they should not eat a large amount of fruit. However, they are safer than feeding your dog cherries and if fed properly they provide some good healthy advantages. Talk to your veterinarian prior to feeding them to your dog.
If foods have cherry flavoring, they also are likely to have sugar, chemicals, or artificial flavoring, so they are bad for your pup. Even if they were flavored using real cherries and not fake flavoring they still usually have too much sugar in them.
It is better to keep feeding them natural food with familiar ingredients and that your vet says it is safe for your dog. Talk to your veterinarian or a nutritionist for advice on healthy and safe foods for dogs.
What to do if your pup ate some cherries
A couple of cherries likely won’t cause a lot of problems, but watch for evidence the dog could have suffered cyanide poisoning. The more cherries the dog ate, the more risky the situation is.
Signs of cyanide poisoning in a dog are:
- Trouble breathing
- Gums are bright red
- Pupils are dilated
- Shock (in serious cases)
A dog could also end up with nausea or diarrhea no matter if they got poisoned or not. If you notice any of the above signs, call your vet immediately.
The bigger worry if a dog eats only one or two cherries is they could get blocked intestines from the seeds. Signs of intestinal blockage are vomiting, constipation, and lessened appetite.
Watch your dog for 24 hours to be sure he doesn’t suffer any of the above signs if you discover he’s eaten some cherries. Get to your veterinarian as fast as you can if you see the signs of an intestinal blockage.
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Do you give your dog any kind of fruit other than cherries? If so, share the healthy kinds of snacks you give your pup and let us all share the info in the below comments.
