Last reviewed: August 2026

Can Dogs Eat Plums?

ToxicPit Hazard

The flesh alone is low risk in small amounts, but the pit contains a cyanide-releasing compound and is also a choking/obstruction hazard.

Why

Like cherries and peaches, plum pits contain amygdalin. The pit is hard, large relative to the fruit, and poses both a toxicity risk if cracked/chewed and a straightforward obstruction risk if swallowed whole — the latter is actually the more common real-world emergency.

Symptoms to watch for

Timing	What to expect
Hours after	Vomiting, lethargy, breathing difficulty if toxin absorbed; vomiting and straining if obstruction

What to do if your dog ate this

Always remove the pit before offering any plum flesh
Don't allow access to plum trees or fallen fruit in the garden
Contact your vet if a pit was swallowed, regardless of amount eaten

🚨 If this happens

Contact your nearest 24-hour emergency vet clinic immediately, or your regular vet's after-hours line. Bring packaging if you have it.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control (US, reference only): +1-888-426-4435 — typically charges a consultation fee for non-US callers.

Sources

General veterinary toxicology consensus, cross-referenced against the Merck Veterinary Manual and ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center food hazard references. See How We Source This for our methodology.

This page is general educational information, not a substitute for veterinary advice.