Is Stone Fruit Pits (Cherry, Peach, Plum, Apricot) Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Stone fruit pits are moderately toxic to dogs — chewing releases cyanide compounds, and swallowed pits cause intestinal blockages. Cats rarely eat enough; risk is mild.
Can cause real harm — call a vet for guidance.
Usually minor, but watch for symptoms.
In an emergency, do not wait.
Medical disclaimer: This tool is for general information only and isnot a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Toxicity depends on the amount, your pet’s size, and health history. If your pet may have ingested something harmful, contact your veterinarian or a poison control hotline ((888) 426-4435 / (855) 764-7661) immediately — do not wait for symptoms to appear.
What is Stone Fruit Pits (Cherry, Peach, Plum, Apricot)?
Stone fruit pits are moderately toxic to dogs — chewing releases cyanide compounds, and swallowed pits cause intestinal blockages. Cats rarely eat enough; risk is mild.
Also known as: cherry pits, peach pit, plum pit, apricot kernel, cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, cyanide fruit, fruit pit obstruction.
Symptoms to Watch For
🐕 In Dogs
- Vomiting, drooling, and difficulty swallowing if a pit is swallowed (obstruction risk)
- Bright red gums, dilated pupils, and breathing difficulty (cyanide, from crushed pits)
- Abdominal pain, straining, or no stool if a pit lodges in the intestine
- Seizures and collapse in serious cyanide cases
🐈 In Cats
- Drooling or vomiting from chewing the fruit flesh or pit
- Mouth irritation
- Obstruction signs are rare in cats (they rarely eat pits whole)
- Breathing difficulty only with large crushed-pit exposure
What to Do If Ingested
- Check whether the pit was swallowed whole or crushed/chewed — crushed is the emergency.
- Do NOT induce vomiting without veterinary guidance (pits can damage the throat coming back up).
- Note the fruit, number of pits, and your dog's size.
- Call a vet or poison hotline for guidance either way.
Steps apply to both cats and dogs. When in doubt, call a vet or poison hotline before acting. Have a cat? Run the Pet Poison Triage Wizard for cat-specific steps.
When to Call the Vet Immediately
Call your veterinarian or a poison control hotline right away if you notice any of these:
- Pits were crushed or chewed, or several were eaten
- Vomiting, abdominal pain, straining to defecate, or no stool within 24–48 hours
- Bright red or blue gums, breathing difficulty, or collapse — emergency
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog just eat the flesh of a peach or cherry?
Small amounts of the flesh are generally fine — the toxicity lives in the pit (and the leaves and stems), which contain cyanogenic compounds that release cyanide when crushed. Cut the fruit away from the pit, and never leave halved stone fruit where a dog can reach the pit. A single swallowed whole pit from a large dog is usually an obstruction question, not a cyanide one.
What is the bigger danger — cyanide or the blockage?
For most dogs, the blockage. Whole pits (a peach pit is the size of a golf ball) commonly lodge in the small intestine and require surgery, especially in small dogs. Cyanide poisoning needs the pit to be cracked or chewed, which releases amygdalin — that is the emergency with bright red gums and breathing trouble. Either scenario warrants a vet call; tell the vet whether the pit came back up or went down whole.
My dog swallowed a cherry pit hours ago and seems fine. What now?
Cherry pits are small and usually pass intact in 24 to 48 hours in medium and large dogs — but monitor closely. Feed normally, watch for vomiting, abdominal pain, straining, or no stool, and check the stool for the pit if you can. If your dog is small, ate several, or shows any obstruction sign within two days, call the vet — retained pits are much easier to manage early.
Sources
This entry is reviewed against the following authoritative veterinary sources.
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Toxicology
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poisons
Last reviewed: 2026-10-16