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My 15 kg dog ate a few chunks of cooked quince from the holiday stew pot — are the cooked seeds inside the chunks safe?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

The cooked flesh is safe in small amounts, but the seeds are not. Quince seeds contain cyanogenic compounds that can release cyanide, especially if chewed or crushed. Cooking does not fully destroy this risk. A few seeds swallowed whole by a dog his size are unlikely to cause acute poisoning, but it's best to avoid them. Watch for any signs of upset stomach, like vomiting or diarrhea, over the next 24 hours. In future, remove all seeds before adding quince to any dish your dog might access. If he shows any concerning symptoms, call your own vet.

Quince — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Cooked flesh is safe in small amounts. The seeds contain cyanogenic compounds.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Quince is not poisonous to dogs, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Why these cautions matter

Stone-fruit pits and some seeds release cyanide when crushed, and quite apart from that they are a choking and blockage hazard.

Quince can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Quince food facts page.

Open the full food page: Quince food facts →