Is Cherry / apricot / peach pits toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: cherry pits / stone fruits
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Identify the part and amount eaten and go now — cyanide progresses fast and the antidotes work best early.
Toxicity notes
The flesh is harmless — the danger is cyanogenic glycosides in pits, leaves and stems (releasing cyanide when crushed). Whole swallowed pits also risk obstruction.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Drooling
- • Rapid, labored breathing
- • Bright-red then purple gums
- • Dilated pupils
- • Seizures
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
The flesh is harmless — the danger is cyanogenic glycosides in pits, leaves and stems (releasing cyanide when crushed). Whole swallowed pits also risk obstruction.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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