Do you like me have a friendly pooch in your life, who likes to eat whatever the rest of the pack is eating? Well, if so there are a few things you should know before giving them people food. As further research is done, there are more and more things being found that we should cautiously give our pets, considering their bodies digest and use foods differently than humans. People are beginning to wonder can dogs eat cherries?
My guy for example, is a 200 pound German Rottweiler named Spartacus. He, in addition to my sons, iare the lights of my life. I’ve had him since he was 3 weeks old, and my husband often says I “spoil” him. You see, Spartacus wants whatever I’m eating. Never fails, that’s just how my guy is. If I’m having banana split ice cream, he wants his own small bowl, if he doesn’t steal it right off the spoon! Before I allowed him to have this, I researched what the do’s and don’ts are. And in the end, I found that in moderation, it is ok for him to have the cherries, but only when I really doctor them up. It’s really not worth the risk and trouble.
Can Dogs Eat Cherries? Only if You’re Crazy Careful
You see, cherry pits contain cyanide, so you need to be entirely sure that you have removed all portions of the pit. They are fairly small, so you would think it would be a simple task, but even the smallest portion left behind could have catastrophic consequences for your pooch. In addition, you need to be sure the stems and any leaves have been removed. Doesn’t seem worth it.
Now, if you’ve done all this, and want to share with your “baby” then do so, but only in moderation. Even though you have done all the required preparation, there are still some downs to feeding cherries to your dog. Cherries in their own unprocessed state, offer a great deal of benefits for humans. This includes containing vitamins A and C, fiber and antioxidants. They may even be beneficial to your pet, but at the same time, there are some risks.
While a few here and there should be ok, if they eat a large ration of cherries, you should watch out for signs of poisoning. These include bright red gums, or dilated pupils, or labored breathing. Also, you should watch for diarrhea, and vomiting as these are typical symptoms of poisoning. If this worries you, and in the end you decide not to allow your pet to have cherries, there are some healthy alternatives. When put like that we shouldn’t really need to ask can dogs eat cherries, we should be asking is it even worth the trouble.
My Dog Just Ate a Ton of Cherries, What Now?
Call your Vet. Don’t risk it. As mentioned above, cherries can be incredibly bad for your dog. For more on the poisoning of dogs and what to do check out: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/emergency/
There are Much Safer Fruits for Dogs
If you really want your pet to have the extra vitamins and minerals that fruits provide, you can offer things such as apples and blueberries. Other alternatives to offer as treats for your pet include bananas and strawberries, which help digestion, are full of antioxidants, and provide a boost to their immunity. In addition, melons, such as cateloupe provide vitamins A, B, C and fiber. Melon could be given in one inch wedges for example.
Finally, if you are looking to boost the fiber content, potassium and folic acid. In the end, it all comes down to what you decide is best for your pet. Just remember that if you do choose to give them cherries, be sure you have fully prepared them, and know the warning signs in case your pet can’t handle them. Your 5 pound Yorkie, has a smaller digestive tract than my 200 pound Rottweiler, and therefore, 4-5 cherries may be ok for my guy, but could be dangerous for your baby. Basically, it all boils down to your personal preference. Just make sure you do your research as you would when feeding any new treat to your pet, and go from there.
Wrapping Up
DogCareLife recommends that you don’t give cherries to dogs. It just doesn’t seem worth trouble of accidentally giving your dog cyanide poisoning. Can dogs eat cherries? Yes they can, but we can do a lot of things that aren’t worth the risk. If your dog has eaten a lot of cherries we recommend that you seek professional help. It’s serious enough of a problem.
About Dogcarelife: Every article on Dogcarelife.com is thoroughly researched and fact-checked, ensuring that you can trust the information you find. Visit our site to learn more about caring for your furry friend and feel confident in the advice you receive.
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