Updated
Small mammal food safety
Can Small Mammals Eat Cherry Pits?
Unsafe
No. Do not feed cherry pits. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline.
Cherry pitsCall before guessing
If any small mammal cracked, chewed, or swallowed a cherry pit, call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline with the species, weight, number of pits, whether they were cracked, time, and symptoms.
Guinea pigs
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to guinea pigs. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Syrian and dwarf hamsters
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to Syrian and dwarf hamsters. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Rats
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to rats. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Mice
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to mice. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Gerbils
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to gerbils. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Chinchillas
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to chinchillas. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Ferrets
Call if exposed
Do not feed cherry pits to ferrets. If a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed, remove access and call with the species, weight, number of pits, whether the pit was cracked, time, and symptoms.
Treat pits as exposure
Any cracked, chewed, or swallowed pit is an exposure question. Remove access and call with the facts.
Check hiding spots
Hamsters, mice, gerbils, and rats may carry food into bedding. Look for hidden pits or broken pieces before returning the animal to the habitat.
If exposure happened
- Remove cherry pits, broken shells, stems, leaves, and fruit scraps from the habitat and play area.
- Keep the animal contained and calm while you call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline.
- Write down the species, approximate weight, number of pits, whether a pit was cracked, the time, and any symptoms.
Avoid
- Whole pits, cracked pits, stems, leaves, cherry stones used as enrichment, and cherry scraps left in bedding.
- Waiting to see whether symptoms appear after a pit was cracked, chewed, or swallowed.
- Using cherry flesh until you can reliably remove every pit and hidden piece.
Helpful food-safety supplies
Optional tools for measuring, storing, serving, and cleaning up small portions safely.
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