PlantFunSweet Cherry Toxic?
Sweet cherry stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that convert to toxic cyanide in the body
Wilting cherry plant material is significantly more toxic than fresh material for susceptible animals
Ingestion of toxic parts can cause life-threatening symptoms in cats, dogs, and horses requiring urgent veterinary care
FAQ
Is Sweet Cherry toxic to Humans?
No formal ASPCA human toxicity data available; ingestion of large volumes of seeds or foliage may cause headache, dizziness, and difficulty breathing (Low)
Is Sweet Cherry toxic to Cats?
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated (High)
Is Sweet Cherry toxic to Dogs?
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated (High)
Is Sweet Cherry toxic to Horses?
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated (High)
Toxicity Details
No formal ASPCA human toxicity data available; ingestion of large volumes of seeds or foliage may cause headache, dizziness, and difficulty breathing
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated
Brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock, potential fatality if untreated
Toxicity Snapshot
First Aid & Prevention
First 30 Minutes
- • Immediately remove any remaining cherry plant material from the animal's mouth and accessible areas
- • Do not induce vomiting unless explicitly directed to do so by a licensed veterinarian
- • Collect a sample of the ingested plant to share with your vet for fast accurate diagnosis
Contact Vet Immediately
- • If your cat, dog, or horse has ingested any quantity of cherry stems, leaves, or seeds
- • If you observe clinical signs including dilated pupils, brick red gums, or respiratory distress
- • If your animal has had unsupervised access to pruned cherry branches or fallen tree debris
Prevention
- • Remove all fallen cherry leaves, seeds, and pruned branches from areas accessible to pets and horses
- • Fence off sweet cherry trees in pastures to prevent horses and livestock from grazing on toxic foliage
- • Never feed cherry pits, stems, or leaves to companion animals or livestock of any species
Treatment & Prognosis
- • Veterinary administration of cyanide antidote therapy if exposure is confirmed and caught early
- • Supportive care including oxygen administration to address respiratory distress and hypoxia
- • Continuous monitoring for shock, cardiovascular abnormalities, and organ damage post-exposure
Professional Toxicology
• Cyanogenic glycosides are metabolized to hydrogen cyanide in the body, which blocks cellular oxygen uptake, leading to systemic hypoxia and organ failure
Information from CliniTox veterinary text.
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Data Sources
This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.