Use Caution
Medium dog serving: 4-6 pitted cherries
Key warning: pit stem and leaves (all contain cyanide), maraschino cherries (extreme sugar), large amounts
Can Dogs Eat Cherries? Caution — Flesh Only, Pit Stem and Leaves Are Toxic
This food requires caution. Read the details carefully before feeding.
Cherry flesh without the pit stem or leaves is safe for dogs in very small amounts. The pit stem and leaves all contain cyanide compounds. The small size makes de-pitting tedious making cherries a less practical dog treat than other fruits. Maraschino cherries contain too much sugar.
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Warning Signs & Symptoms
Pit: cyanide compounds. Stems: cyanide compounds. Leaves: cyanide compounds. Maraschino cherries: extreme sugar and often contain artificial ingredients. Large amounts: digestive upset. Each component except flesh is toxic.
If Your Dog Ate This
Call vet if pit stem or leaves were consumed.
Safe to Feed
tiny amounts of pitted cherry flesh only — pit stem and leaves completely removed
What to Avoid
pit stem and leaves (all contain cyanide), maraschino cherries (extreme sugar), large amounts
Preparation & Serving
Remove pit stem and leaves from each cherry. Tiny amounts only. Blueberries are easier and safer.
Potential Health Benefits
Vitamins C A K antioxidants in tiny amounts.
Safer Alternatives
- blueberries-safe|frozen-cherries|strawberries-safe
Did you know?
Cherries have the shortest harvest season of any commercially grown fruit — just 2-3 weeks for most varieties. This brief window combined with their perishability and the labor-intensive harvesting makes cherries consistently the most expensive common fruit by weight. The maraschino cherry was originally made from Marasca cherries from Croatia preserved in Maraschino liqueur — a process that took months. Modern maraschino cherries are bleached with sulfur dioxide then dyed red and preserved in sugar syrup — a completely different and much less sophisticated product.
Portions & nutrition
- Serving (small dog)
- 2-3 pitted cherries
- Serving (medium dog)
- 4-6 pitted cherries
- Serving (large dog)
- 6-8 pitted cherries
- Calories (per 100g)
- 63
- Safe frequency
- Rarely — blueberries are a better choice
Source
What You Need to Know
Cherries are more trouble than they are worth as a dog treat due to the toxic pit stem and leaves that must all be removed and the small size that makes removal tedious. The flesh itself is safe in tiny amounts. The practical advice is to choose blueberries or strawberries as treats instead. Maraschino cherries are preserved in sugar syrup and contain artificial ingredients making them entirely inappropriate.
This food requires care — if your dog has eaten a large amount read our emergency guide
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