My dog ate a cherry – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Cherry pits are the main concern.

What to do now

What to do right now

Note what was eaten, how much and when.
Bring the packaging if available.
Keep your dog calm.
Remove any remaining cherries or plant material.

Don't

Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Cherry trees and shrubs contain cyanogenic glycosides.^[1] All parts other than the ripe pulp around the seeds are considered toxic and contain cyanide, with the pits as the main concern.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Death
Difficulty breathing
Dilated pupils
Shock

Where it is found

Cherry trees and shrubs
Choke cherry
Black cherry
Cherry laurel

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much cherry is dangerous?

The pits, or seeds, are the main concern.^[1]

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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