Can Dogs Eat Cherries? – Watch Out For These Dangers

There is no doubt that dogs are the most loved pets in the world. You can find a dog in nearly every home. This close relationship between dogs and human beings has led to strong bonds between dog owners and their pets. Do you own a dog? Do you enjoy giving him/her treats quite often?

Well, there is nothing wrong with giving your dog treats. Dogs love getting treats from their owners. Nonetheless, before you give your dog a treat, you should find out if it does have any effect on him/her. Most owners tend to give dogs foods meant for human beings. Cherries are a bunch of tasty fruits that humans love to eat. But, can dogs eat cherries? Before you proceed to feed cherries to your dog, it is best if you have a look at this guide.

Are Cherries Safe For Dogs?

This is probably the biggest concern running through your mind. Is it safe to feed your dog cherries? Yes, you can feed it to your dog. However, as you do so, you need to be very careful. Cherries are a popular fruit that grows in most parts of the world. They are small in size and can be used to flavor drinks and desserts. You can also eat cherry on its own without mixing it with anything else. There are no adverse effects associated with feeding your dog cherries. However, there are some things you need to consider.

How To Give Cherries To Your Dog

dog and girl under cherry tree

The ideal kind of cherries that should be given to a dog must be freshly picked. You should always avoid processed cherries that come packed in jars or those that have added sugars blended with them.

You should also go to an extra length of ensuring that your dog only eats the cherry fruit. That is, you shouldn’t feed him the leaves or stems of the cherry plant. Feeding these other parts of the cherry plant is a bit dangerous since your dog might get an allergic reaction. Or, stems can even choke your dog. It is best that you minimize all these risks.

The seeds of the cherry fruit contain an element called Cyanide, which blocks the body cells ability to take up sufficient oxygen. This can lead to difficulty in breathing, and you might also notice your puppy’s eyes becoming dilated.

What Are The Potential Health Benefits Of Cherries?

Despite how much we human beings love cherries, they aren’t a must-have food for dogs. You can feed cherries to your dog every once in a while as a treat. That aside, cherries do have a couple of health benefits. The fruit is rich in both vitamins and essential minerals which can help in the body development of your dog.

Here are some of the health benefits of cherries;

  • It reduces pain and inflammation
  • It does a great job at regulating heart rhythm
  • It boosts brain health
  • Improves the sleeping pattern of your dog

How Much Cherries Should I Feed My Dog?

At the beginning of this guide, we did mention that cherries are just but a treat and not a must-have food for your dog. Therefore, it is best if you feed him/her just a small portion of cherries. If it’s your dog’s first time to eat cherries, then start small and gradually increase the portion. However, you should stop feeding him/her when you notice the following signs.

  • Bright red gums
  • Stomach discomfort and diarrhea
  • Diluted and widening pupils
  • Difficulty in breathing

Some of these signs might appear immediately, whereas it might take a while for others to show up. You should be on the lookout for any warning signs after your dog has eaten cherries.

Which Type of Cherries is Safe for Your Dog?

As you may know, there are different types of cherry fruits. There is Rainer, Black, Maraschino, and Bing. All these types are safe for humans, but health experts recommend the Maraschino mostly for dogs. This is because that particular type of cherry doesn’t have any pits. However, it’s quite sugary. You should, therefore, allow him/her to eat small amounts of Maraschino cherry.

What to Do When You Notice the Side Effects

You should go to the nearest vet immediately you notice any of the above side effects. Note that, in the case of diarrhea or stomach upset, home remedies such as giving him liquids can help control the situation. However, when you notice your dog struggling with breathing or dilated pupils, see a vet immediately.

The Bottom Line

We can conclude that it is safe for dogs to eat cherries. However, it is advisable to ensure they feed on small amounts of cherries. The Cyanide found in cherries isn’t ideal for dogs and if you do grow cherries in your backyard or garden, we advise you to fence it. This is to help avoid cases of your dog getting into the garden and over-eating the cherries.

Occasionally, you can treat your dog with these tiny and sweet fruits. But before doing so, always remove the pits, leaves and stems from the cherries.