Dogs love anything they see people eat. They can enjoy some of these foods, but others can upset their stomach or cause poisoning. Most fruits are tasty and healthy snacks for dogs; they are not all safe for furry friends. Fruits like cherries specifically pose a danger, which is why we dig in to find out if can dogs eat cherries.
Cherries are sweet, but the danger in them is that their pits, stems, and leaves have a poisonous chemical called cyanide. Enough cyanide can be lethal. On the other hand, a dog can suffer intestinal blockages from cherry pits if they get lodged in its digestive system.
You might be wondering, how about maraschinos which have their pits removed? Even without the pits, maraschinos are sweetened with lots of sugar, which disqualifies them from a good snack.
Can Dogs Eat Cherries
Dogs can’t eat cherries because of the danger they pose, but one should find other alternatives to keep the dog happier and healthy. Cherries have nutritional benefits making them healthy and safe for dogs to eat.
However, if no caution is applied, cherries can bring harm to your dog. Many human foods are suitable for dogs, and you can also find a substitute for cherries to feed them. Before you share your human food with your dog, make it a habit to consult with your vet.
Why Cherries are Unsafe for Dogs
Cherries are preserved with cyanide, which sticks in the pits, stems, on leaves. Cyanide is a highly poisonous chemical if consumed in large quantities. The amount of cyanide in one or two cherries is not sufficient to cause serious harm, but it is not worth the risk because you can get other substitutes.
Also, they can suffer intestinal obstruction from cherry. Many dogs that have been eating cherries suffer these nasty complications. Assume the cherry has no pits. The cherry alone can cause gastrointestinal upsets.
Are There Safe Cherries for Dogs?
There are many types of cherries, like bing, rainier, black, and maraschino. Giving your dog canned fruits is not a good idea because they are most likely sweetened, for instance, maraschino.
The pits are removed during packaging, but they have added sugars, leading to illnesses like diabetes, obesity, digestion complications, and cavities. If you decide to feed your dog with fresh cherry, please remove the pit, stem, and leaves. It sounds like a lot of work for you and even worse because the dog will not eat enough cherries for you to see the fruit benefits.
Please keep your dog safe from poisoning and all the discomforts that result from cherry consumption by serving their alternatives. There are many fresh fruits and berries to feed your dog without worrying about any risks. You can choose blueberries, mangoes(peeled and pitted), and apples – remove the core and seeds. Blueberries have many antioxidants.
You can also stick to traditional dog treats, and the result will be as good as those from fruits. Whatever you do, make sure it is a safe and healthy endeavor for your dog.
Cherries have many nutritional values like vitamins A and C, fiber, antioxidants, and melatonin, all of which are beneficial to a dog’s health. These fruits have large sugar quantities, causing stomach upsets, so don’t serve them in large amounts. If you feel unsure about the quantity and kind of fruit, consult with your vet to get it right.
When you shop for your dog, please stick to the products containing familiar ingredients and those safe for their canines.
What if a Dog Swallows a Whole Cherry?
You might be busy, and your dog gets hold of a whole cherry! What do you do? Nothing! A single cherry is inconsequential, but you should keep watch to arrest any symptoms of intestinal disruptions, which might be characterized by vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, or less fecal production.
The symptoms might start to manifest after 24 hours, and the younger dogs might suffer more intestinal blockages. For multiple cherries, look for cyanide poisoning signs like breathing problems, bright red gums, and dilated pupils. If the cherries are eaten and have no pits, call your vet for professional advice. Your vet will likely ask you to induce vomiting to prevent further toxication from cyanide.
Conclusion
So, can dogs eat cherries? The number of cherries matters. If a dog gets hold of one or two cherries, there might be cause for alarm, but if there are many, you need to watch for any complications that arise from eating cherries after 24 hours. If you decide to feed your dog with cherries, make sure you remove the pits and leaves to avoid poisoning the dog.
You should also avoid feeding your dog so many fruits because they have a lot of sugar, which can trigger health problems. When buying dog food, get familiar ingredients to keep your dog healthy. Anytime you feel stuck on what to do concerning your dog, please consult your vet.
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