Plums are not a good treat for dogs. The ASPCA lists the plum as toxic to dogs because its pit, stems and leaves contain compounds that can release cyanide, and the hard pit can also choke a dog or block its gut. The flesh is the low-risk part: a small bite is unlikely to cause harm, though it can upset a dog's stomach.
If your dog swallowed a pit or chewed on plum leaves or stems, call your veterinarian or a 24/7 animal poison line now rather than waiting for signs.
Can Dogs Eat Plums?
Not as a snack, no. Which part your dog got changes the risk most, so start there.
What your dog got | Main problem | What to do |
|---|---|---|
A small bite of plum flesh, no pit | Unlikely to cause harm; may upset the stomach | Watch for soft stool or vomiting. Call your vet if signs appear or if a pit, stem or leaf may have gone down too |
A whole plum or a pit | The pit can choke a dog or block the stomach or intestines; a chewed or broken pit can release cyanide | Call now |
Plum leaves, stems or fallen fruit from a tree | The ASPCA lists the plum plant as toxic: stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide, especially as leaves wilt | Call now |
Prunes (dried plums) | Upset stomach and diarrhea; pits if not pitted | See the prunes section below and call for advice |
Why the Pit, Stems and Leaves Are the Problem
The common plum, Prunus domestica, belongs to the rose family alongside cherries, peaches and apricots. The ASPCA's plant entry for plum names the toxic principle as cyanogenic glycosides, plant compounds that can release cyanide, and says the stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide. The pit is the fruit's seed casing, and food safety authorities list the seeds and stones of plums among the foods that carry these compounds.
Cyanide doesn't work by damaging red blood cells. It stops the body's cells from using the oxygen the blood delivers, so the blood stays oxygen-rich and the gums can look bright red while the tissues are starved. Crushing or chewing is a key step in releasing cyanide from plants, and the fleshy parts of fruits generally carry low levels compared with seeds and leaves (Merck Veterinary Manual).
Whole pits change the picture. Pet Poison Helpline notes, for peach pits, that dogs rarely chew their food thoroughly, so cyanide poisoning from a swallowed pit is unlikely, while the pit itself can cause a blockage in a small dog (Pet Poison Helpline). A veterinary hospital says the same of plum pits: they pose serious choking and blockage risks, especially in smaller breeds, and the cyanide risk rises when a pit is chewed rather than swallowed whole (Garden State Veterinary Services). So a swallowed pit is a reason to call either way: a blockage is the likelier problem, and a chewed pit adds the cyanide risk.
Can Dogs Eat Plum Flesh?
A small bite of plum flesh, with no pit, is unlikely to harm a dog. Merck notes that the fleshy parts of fruits carry low levels of cyanide-releasing compounds, and Garden State Veterinary Services says dogs can eat small amounts of plum flesh. A mild reaction looks like a temporary stomach upset with soft stool or a little vomiting. Watch your dog, and call your vet if signs appear, get worse, or you think a pit, stem or leaf went down as well.
That still doesn't make plums a treat to offer. The flesh is sugary, it adds nothing a complete and balanced dog food doesn't already provide, and the ASPCA lists the plant as toxic. If someone in the house does share a piece, keep it small, pitted and occasional. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association advises that all treats together stay under 10 percent of a dog's daily calories and never replace a meal, and suggests asking your veterinary team which treats and how much suit your dog (WSAVA).
My Dog Ate a Plum: What to Do Now
Act early, and match your response to what your dog got. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises not to wait for signs to get worse, even if your pet seems normal (ASPCA).
- Move your dog away from any plums, pits or clippings that are left and check your other pets.
- Check how your dog is doing. If your dog is choking, has trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure or won't respond, go straight to the nearest veterinary hospital.
- Call now if your dog got a pit, a whole plum, leaves or stems, or you aren't sure what went down, even if your dog seems fine: your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both poison lines are open 24/7, and a fee may apply. They decide whether your dog needs to be seen and tell you what to watch for.
- Only a small bite of pitted flesh? Watch for stomach upset, and call your vet if vomiting, soft stool or anything unusual follows.
- Have the details ready: what your dog ate (flesh, whole plums, pits, leaves or stems), roughly how much, when, and your dog's weight and age. Keep any leftover pits or plant parts to show the vet.
- Don't make your dog vomit or give anything (food, oils, medicines or home remedies) unless your vet or the poison line tells you to.
What Should I Do If My Dog Swallowed a Plum Stone?
Call your vet or a poison line right away, whatever your dog's size. A pit can lodge in the throat, stomach or intestines, and the Merck Veterinary Manual calls gastrointestinal obstruction an emergency (Merck Veterinary Manual). The blockage risk is greatest for small dogs. Pet Poison Helpline's advice for cherry pits applies here too: don't wait for symptoms to show.
Your vet may take X-rays or an ultrasound to find the pit. Some objects pass with fluids and close monitoring; many intestinal blockages need surgery (Cornell Riney Canine Health Center). That decision belongs to your vet, which is one more reason to phone early.
Should I Induce Vomiting If My Dog Ate a Plum?
No, not on your own. Making a dog vomit at home can do more harm than good, and both the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline say to talk to a veterinary professional first. If making your dog vomit is the right step, your vet or the poison line will tell you.
Signs to Watch For
Get your dog seen right away if you notice any of these after a plum, pit, leaf or stem.
Possible cyanide poisoning (from the ASPCA's plum entry and Pet Poison Helpline):
- Brick-red or bright red gums
- Dilated pupils
- Trouble breathing, panting or gasping
- Drooling or vomiting
- Collapse or shock
- Seizures
Possible blockage from a pit (from Merck, Cornell and Garden State Veterinary Services):
- Vomiting, especially repeated vomiting or not keeping water down
- Not eating
- Belly pain or a tender belly
- Diarrhea, or no bowel movements
- Lethargy
For cyanide exposure, the veterinary team focuses on supporting breathing and circulation while treating the toxin; for a blockage, imaging comes first and surgery may follow (Garden State Veterinary Services).
Can Dogs Eat Dried Plums (Prunes)?
Prunes are dried plums, so the answer doesn't change: don't share them. Drying packs the sugar and fiber into a small, chewy piece, and prunes are known for their laxative effect, which in dogs can mean diarrhea and an upset stomach (Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis et al., 2001). Don't use them for a constipated dog either. Our guide on whether dogs can eat prunes covers prune juice, constipation and what to do if your dog raided the bag.
Can Dogs Eat Cherry Plums?
Cherry plums are another Prunus, so the same rule applies: the pit, stems and leaves are the dangerous parts. The ASPCA's cherry entry uses the same warning as its plum entry, with stems, leaves and seeds that contain cyanide. Treat a swallowed cherry plum pit like any other pit and call.
Can Puppies Eat Plums?
No. Puppies get the same answer as adult dogs, and their size works against them: pits are an especially big choking and blockage risk for small dogs. Keep fallen fruit and dropped pits out of a puppy's reach, and if your puppy ate any part of a plum, call your vet.
Got a Plum Tree? Keeping Dogs Safe
A plum tree in the yard means fallen fruit, pits and leaves within easy reach, often when nobody is watching. The ASPCA notes that the stems, leaves and seeds are particularly toxic as they wilt, so storm-broken branches and pruning piles matter as much as the fruit.
- Pick up fallen plums and pits every day while the tree is fruiting.
- Keep dogs away from wilting leaves, fallen branches and clippings, and bag prunings right away.
- Keep plums off low tables and out of fruit bowls your dog can reach.
- Throw pits into a covered trash can, not an open kitchen bin or the compost.
Plums are not the only risky plant in a yard. Our list of yard plants poisonous to dogs covers the others.
Safer Fruit to Share Instead
If your dog loves fruit, a few options are widely considered safe when prepared well, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Garden State Veterinary Services:
- Apples, with the seeds and core removed first. Apple seeds carry the same kind of cyanide-releasing compounds as plum pits.
- Blueberries, which the AKC calls rich in antioxidants.
- Bananas, as an occasional treat rather than part of the main diet, because of their sugar.
- Watermelon, with the rind and seeds removed, since both can cause a blockage.
Cut fruit into pieces sized for your dog to lower the choking risk, and keep every treat within the 10 percent rule above. Some fruit is never safe to share: grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs. Our guide to human foods toxic to dogs lists the rest. If your dog has a health condition or eats a prescription diet, ask your vet before adding any fruit.
Originally written by Dr. Kaylee Ferreira. Updated by the I Love Veterinary editorial team.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants, Plum
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants, Cherry
- ASPCA: My Pet Ate Something! When Should I Seek Help?
- ASPCA: What to Do if Your Pet Is Poisoned
- ASPCA: Is It Ever Safe to Induce Vomiting?
- Pet Poison Helpline: Peach Pits
- Pet Poison Helpline: My Dog Ate a Cherry Pit
- Pet Poison Helpline: If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic, Hold the Hydrogen Peroxide
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Cyanide Poisoning in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals
- Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Obstruction in Dogs
- Garden State Veterinary Services: Plum Ingestion in Dogs, When It's an Emergency and What to Do
- WSAVA Nutrition Committee: Feeding Treats to Your Dog
- American Kennel Club: Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can't Eat (secondary source, used for the fruit swaps)
- Centre for Food Safety (Hong Kong): Cyanides and Food Safety
- Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, et al. Chemical composition and potential health effects of prunes: a functional food? Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2001
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
