Dogs have become a family to people who have them. To let them live a healthy and long life, owners need to know which food is safe for their pups and which ones can cause them trouble. If you are wondering “can dogs eat cherries?” or “can dogs eat cherries without seeds?” the simple answer is no.
Why Cherries are Harmful to Dogs
Cherries belong to the Prunus species, which also include peaches and apricots. The toxic substances of cherries are not found in the fruit itself but they are present in the leaves, stems, and seeds. These parts contain cyanide and can be the cause of gastrointestinal obstruction.
Cherry poisoning can happen when your dogs swallowed large quantities of harmful cherries. Since cyanide, a deadly substance, is present in cherry pits, stems, and leaves, these fruits can be highly toxic to dogs.
Although cherries contain substances that are good for dogs, such as vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants, the fruit’s flesh can cause an upset stomach to your dogs. The worse thing is: cherry pit, leaves, and stem contain cyanide that can be toxic to dogs if ingested in large quantities. The cherry pits can also be an intestinal obstruction in your dog’s stomach.
There are other species of cherries out there, such as rainier, black, bing, and maraschino cherries. Now, you might wonder “can dogs eat maraschino cherries?” Although this type of cherries doesn’t have a pit, maraschino cherries contain a great amount of sugar. This can be harmful to your dogs as excessive amounts of sugar can lead to diabetes, digestive upset, cavities, and obesity.
Steps to Do When Your Dog Eats Cherries
Accidents can happen anytime. If your dog accidentally eats a bunch of cherries, the very first important step is to calm down. Although a single cherry pit won’t cause cyanide poisoning, you should still observe your dog vigilantly. Be vigilant of symptoms of intestinal obstruction such as vomiting, loss in appetite, decreased fecal activity, and constipation.
On the other hand, if your dog has eaten a large number of cherries, you should keep an eye out for symptoms of possible cyanide poisoning. These symptoms include bright red gums, dilated pupils, and having trouble breathing. To avoid greater troubles, it’s always a good idea to call your vet and let him/her decide what the best thing to do for your pup is.
If your dog experiences cyanide poisoning, which can be lethal, it is very important to go immediately to your veterinarian. Take note of the amount ingested and the time that has passed by since your dog ate them.
Treatment of Cherry Poisoning
The following are some of the treatments for dogs who suffer from cherry poisoning.
Detoxification
Thiocyanate and rhodanese help in detoxifying poisoned dogs. Each one of these detoxification approaches is delivered by IV fluids.
Nitrates Inhalation
Amyl nitrate and sodium nitrate serve as effective cyanide poisoning antidotes. Many times this is the first procedure that the veterinarian takes after ingesting cherries or other poisonous fruit seeds when a dog is brought in.
Sodium Thiosulfate
Sodium thiosulfate can be orally administered to the dog. Sodium thiosulfate helps stop any more cyanide production in the dog. Sodium thiosulfate is useful in helping the cells turn cyanide into a different form that can help the body expel it via urination.
Other Treatments
Other antidotes can be used by the veterinarian to detoxify cyanide by helping it shape a particular receptor, making it comparable. Antidotes are currently under review for efficacy and safety.
Safer Alternatives
While there are risks for your dog in eating cherries, there are still plenty of other fresh berries and fruits available out there. Can dogs eat black cherries or can dogs eat dried cherries? The answer is still no.
The good news is fruits, such as blueberries, are a great choice! Many other fruits and existing foods are offered that do not pose the risks related to cherries, nor do they allow you to do the trouble of extracting the pits. Peeled and pitted mangoes are also safer alternatives compared to cherries.
Blueberries, which contain a good amount of antioxidants, are also a safe alternative. Another fruit that your dogs can safely eat is apples. Just make sure to remove the core and the seeds from the fruit.
However, these fruits contain sugar which may cause stomach upset to some dogs. Thus, these fruits are not advisable for every dog and should not be fed in large amounts. Although these fruits are safer alternatives than cherries, it is still best to consult a veterinarian before feeding your dogs with these fruits. In the end, we only want what’s best for our beloved pets.
If you are thinking about giving your dog cherry-flavored snacks instead of real fruits, you might want to reconsider. These artificially flavored foods are usually packed with chemicals and high levels of sugar that can cause harm to your pets.
If you don’t want to risk the health of your dog, it is still best to feed your pups with dog foods that have ingredients that you are familiar with and have knowledge of. And if you want to try something new for your pup, you can always ask your nutritionist or your vet for the best advice on which meals and foods are best for your pet’s health and safety.