Can dogs eat fruit pits?

What to do if your dog ate fruit pits

Call your vet or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (or ASPCA at (888) 426-4435) right away if she swallowed a pit, even if she seems fine. If she has trouble breathing, red gums or collapses, call your vet on the way to the emergency clinic. Don't try to make her vomit at home.

Raw, cooked and other forms of fruit pits

• A littlePeach and nectarine flesh (pit removed) Not toxic. Offer small fresh pieces. Skip canned or sugared versions.
• A littlePlum and apricot flesh (pit removed) Fine in small pieces as an occasional treat. Dried apricots are high in sugar.
• ToxicPeach, plum, apricot and nectarine pits The kernel inside contains amygdalin, which releases cyanide. The pit itself can choke her, crack a tooth, or block the gut.
• ToxicStems and leaves of these trees Also contain cyanide, especially when wilting.
• ToxicFallen or rotting fruit and pits Pits can grow mold even when the fruit looks fine, and some molds cause tremors or seizures.

Why fruit pits is toxic to dogs

Cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin) in the kernel, stems and leaves release cyanide, which blocks the body's use of oxygen. Dogs usually swallow pits whole, so blockage is often the more likely emergency, especially for small dogs. Poisoning is a bigger risk when many pits are chewed or cracked.

Signs to watch for after she eats fruit pits

Cyanide: bright or brick-red gums, dilated pupils, drooling, fast or difficult breathing, panting, vomiting, a racing heart, seizures, collapse or shock. It can appear within 15 to 20 minutes. Blockage: vomiting or gagging, regurgitation, not eating, belly pain, diarrhea, lethargy.