| Verdict for dogs | Don't feed |
| Severity | 4 / 5 — Serious — call your vet or poison control today. |
| Safe amount | None |
| Category | Fruit |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
The ASPCA lists cherry (Prunus species) as toxic to dogs — the stems, leaves and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides, with bright red gums, dilated pupils, labored breathing and shock as signs. A stray de-pitted cherry is not an emergency, but a dog into a bowl of whole cherries is a call to make.
Don't feed it. If your dog has already eaten some, call your vet or poison control with the amount and the timing and follow their advice.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
Can cats eat cherries? — Don't feed it to cats either.
No — cherries should not be given to dogs. If yours has already eaten some, call your vet. The ASPCA lists cherry (Prunus species) as toxic to dogs — the stems, leaves and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides, with bright red gums, dilated pupils, labored breathing and shock as signs. A stray de-pitted cherry is not an emergency, but a dog into a bowl of whole cherries is a call to make.
Watch for: Bright red gums; Dilated pupils; Panting or labored breathing; Collapse or shock; Or, if the stone is stuck: repeated vomiting, no appetite, a painful belly. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
More than a taste can cause real illness, and the risk rises with the amount and with a smaller pet. The safe amount is none — if your dog has had more, call your vet.