By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Summer stone fruit season brings a predictable run of cases to Australian vet clinics. A dog finds peaches under a backyard tree or steals one from the fruit bowl, swallows the pit whole, and a day or two later starts vomiting. Peach flesh is fine for most dogs in small amounts. The pit is the problem. Its size, rough ridged surface and pointed tip make it very good at lodging in the intestine. The cyanide story is real but often overstated.
Key takeaways
- The main danger of a peach pit is a blockage in the stomach or intestine, which can need surgery.
- Peach pits contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide when the pit is crushed or chewed. Serious cyanide poisoning from a pit or two is uncommon in dogs.
- Signs of blockage include repeated vomiting, not eating, belly pain and lethargy, and can take one to several days to appear.
- Do not try to make your dog vomit at home.
- Related: peaches for dogs, foreign bodies, cherry pits.
Why peach pits cause blockages
A peach stone is roughly the size of a walnut. It is hard, does not soften in the stomach, and has a corrugated surface that grips the bowel lining. Large dogs can sometimes pass one. In small and medium dogs the pit often gets stuck at the stomach outlet or in the small intestine. Once it lodges, food and fluid cannot move past, the bowel wall swells, and if it is left too long the blood supply to that section can be compromised. The pointed tip can also damage the gut wall.
Swallowing several pits from fallen fruit increases the risk. Fallen fruit that has started to rot or grow mould can cause gut upset of its own.
What about cyanide?
Peaches belong to the Prunus family, along with apricots, nectarines, plums and cherries. Their kernels contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside that can release hydrogen cyanide when the pit is cracked and the kernel chewed. A pit swallowed whole releases very little. A dog that grinds pits up, or eats many, is at more risk. The leaves and stems of Prunus trees also contain these compounds, especially when wilted.
Cyanide poisoning in dogs from fruit pits is not common, but when it does happen signs develop quickly, often within an hour. They include bright red gums, panting or difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, weakness, trembling, collapse and seizures. That is an emergency.
What to do if your dog swallowed a peach pit
- Remove any remaining fruit and pits.
- Estimate how many pits were eaten and whether they were chewed or swallowed whole.
- Call your vet. Depending on your dog's size and how long ago it happened, your vet may want to see your dog, take an X-ray, or give you a monitoring plan.
- Do not give salt, hydrogen peroxide or other home remedies to cause vomiting. Some vets will induce vomiting in clinic soon after a pit is swallowed if it is judged safe to do so.
- Watch your dog closely for several days, including checking stools for the pit.
Signs of an intestinal blockage
- Vomiting, especially repeated vomiting or vomiting water
- Not eating, or eating and then vomiting
- A tight or painful belly, a hunched posture or restlessness
- Straining with little or no stool, or diarrhoea
- Lethargy and weakness
- Dehydration (dry, tacky gums)
When it is an emergency
See a vet urgently if your dog vomits more than once or twice, cannot keep water down, has a painful or swollen belly, is lethargic, or has stopped eating after access to stone fruit. Go straight to an emergency hospital if your dog has trouble breathing, bright red or very pale gums, trembling, collapse or seizures. For poisoning advice you can also call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
How vets diagnose and treat it
Your vet will examine your dog and usually take X-rays, sometimes with ultrasound. Peach pits are not always easy to see on plain X-rays, so a pattern of gas-filled bowel loops may be the main clue. A pit still in the stomach may be retrieved with an endoscope. A pit stuck in the intestine usually needs surgery. Dogs are often given fluids and supportive care around the procedure. Suspected cyanide poisoning needs emergency treatment in hospital.
Prevention tips
- Pick up fallen fruit daily during stone fruit season, or fence off fruit trees.
- Keep fruit bowls out of reach.
- Put pits and cores in a lidded bin.
- If you share peach flesh, cut it from the stone and offer small pieces.
FAQ
My large dog swallowed one peach pit and seems fine. Will it pass?
It might, but you cannot be sure. Call your vet for advice and watch for vomiting, appetite loss or belly pain over the next few days.
Is peach flesh safe for dogs?
Plain ripe peach flesh in small pieces is fine for most dogs. Too much can cause loose stools.
Are canned peaches okay?
They usually come in sugary syrup. Plain fresh fruit is a better option.
How quickly does a blockage show up?
Some dogs vomit within hours. Others show signs a day or more later, as the pit moves into the intestine.
Talk with a vet
If your dog has swallowed a pit or got into fallen fruit, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you work out whether your dog needs to be seen now. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Cyanide poisoning in animals.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Gastrointestinal obstruction in small animals.
- Hayes G. Gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 208 cases. J Small Anim Pract. 2009;50(11):576-583.
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. What should I feed my dog?
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.