The pits and stems of cherries, peaches, plums and apricots contain cyanide compounds, and pits can block the gut.
Call a vet or poison control now. Do not wait for symptoms.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply.
Part of our guide to Can Dogs Eat Cherry pits? Ingredients, Amount, Symptoms & What to Do.
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Why Cherry Pits is dangerous
The pits and stems of cherries, peaches, plums and apricots contain cyanide compounds, and pits can block the gut.
Part of the Cooked Bones guide
For related dog-safety questions and product-by-product answers, see the complete cooked bones guide.
Signs to watch for
Difficulty breathing, drooling, vomiting, gut blockage
Related items
Check the exact item or ingredient before assuming two similar exposures carry the same risk.
What to do next
Avoid the pits entirely; contact your vet if pits were swallowed.
🚨Step-by-step: what to do in the first 10 minutes →Available 24/7. A consultation fee may apply.
Cherry pits are both a toxin question and an obstruction question
Cherry flesh is not the same exposure as a swallowed pit. The hard stone can obstruct the gut, while crushed pits and stems contain cyanide compounds. That is why the number of pits, whether they were chewed, and your dog's size all matter.
1. A whole pit and a crushed pit are different problems
An intact pit is most likely to create a choking or obstruction concern, especially in a small dog. A chewed or crushed pit raises the additional concern of cyanide-containing material, so save any remaining fruit and tell the vet exactly what you saw. Why swallowed food objects can become an emergency →
2. Stone fruit needs the same pit check
Peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries all have hard pits. The safe part is the pitted flesh; do not offer the whole fruit or assume a swallowed stone will pass without trouble. Can dogs eat peaches? The flesh-versus-pit distinction →
3. Call early when the details are uncertain
Count what is missing, note whether pits were chewed, and watch for drooling, repeated vomiting, belly pain, trouble breathing, or straining. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinary professional specifically tells you to. What to do in the first 10 minutes after a dog swallows something risky →
FAQ
The flesh is fine, but pits/stems are the danger: both for cyanide and for obstruction.
A bit of pitted flesh is fine; watch if a single pit was swallowed by a large dog.
Several pits, a small dog, or any breathing/gut distress.
- ASPCA APCC
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: people foods to avoid feeding your pets
- Merck Veterinary Manual: food hazards