Is Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides) safe for dogs and cats?
Moderate risk for petsDogs that chew and ingest fruit pits from peaches, apricots, cherries, or plums — or large numbers of apple seeds — are at risk for cyanide toxicity from amygdalin hydrolysis. Smaller dogs are at substantially greater risk per unit body weight; a single crushed peach or apricot pit contains sufficient amygdalin to cause clinical HCN toxicity in a dog under 10 kg. Clinical signs include rapid onset of weakness, ataxia, bright red mucous membranes, hypersalivation, seizures, and respiratory distress — progressing to death within 30–60 minutes if untreated in severe cases. ASPCA lists stone fruit pits and apple seeds as toxic to dogs due to cyanogenic glycoside content. Treatment is with cyanide antidote kits (sodium nitrite + sodium thiosulfate) and supportive care.
What is amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides)?
The IUPAC name is (2R)-2-phenyl-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyacetonitrile.
Also known as: (2R)-2-phenyl-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyacetonitrile, amygdalin, (R)-Amygdalin, D-Amygdalin.
- IUPAC name
- (2R)-2-phenyl-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyacetonitrile
- CAS number
- 29883-15-6
- Molecular formula
- C20H27NO11
- Molecular weight
- 457.4 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C#N)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)COC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O
- PubChem CID
- 656516
Risk for dogs
Moderate riskDogs that chew and ingest fruit pits from peaches, apricots, cherries, or plums — or large numbers of apple seeds — are at risk for cyanide toxicity from amygdalin hydrolysis. Smaller dogs are at substantially greater risk per unit body weight; a single crushed peach or apricot pit contains sufficient amygdalin to cause clinical HCN toxicity in a dog under 10 kg. Clinical signs include rapid onset of weakness, ataxia, bright red mucous membranes, hypersalivation, seizures, and respiratory distress — progressing to death within 30–60 minutes if untreated in severe cases. ASPCA lists stone fruit pits and apple seeds as toxic to dogs due to cyanogenic glycoside content. Treatment is with cyanide antidote kits (sodium nitrite + sodium thiosulfate) and supportive care.
Risk for cats
Moderate riskCats are susceptible to cyanide toxicity from amygdalin hydrolysis with identical toxicological mechanisms. Cats are less likely to chew fruit pits than dogs but outdoor cats may encounter cherry or bitter almond trees. The HCN toxicity mechanism — cytochrome c oxidase inhibition blocking cellular respiration — is universal across mammals. Clinical signs and treatment principles are identical to those in dogs. ASPCA lists Prunus species (cherry, plum, peach, apricot) and apple seeds as containing cyanogenic glycosides toxic to cats. Prompt veterinary decontamination and antidote administration are critical for good outcomes.
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides).
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | 1977 | Import Alert - laetrile importation banned |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides):
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Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides) safe for pets?
Dogs that chew and ingest fruit pits from peaches, apricots, cherries, or plums — or large numbers of apple seeds — are at risk for cyanide toxicity from amygdalin hydrolysis. Smaller dogs are at substantially greater risk per unit body weight; a single crushed peach or apricot pit contains sufficient amygdalin to cause clinical HCN toxicity in a dog under 10 kg. Clinical signs include rapid onset of weakness, ataxia, bright red mucous membranes, hypersalivation, seizures, and respiratory distress — progressing to death within 30–60 minutes if untreated in severe cases. ASPCA lists stone fruit pits and apple seeds as toxic to dogs due to cyanogenic glycoside content. Treatment is with cyanide antidote kits (sodium nitrite + sodium thiosulfate) and supportive care.
What products contain amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides)?
Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
See Amygdalin (cyanogenic glycosides) in the pets app
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Open in pets View raw API dataSources (2)
- US FDA: Amygdalin (Laetrile/Vitamin B17) — Import Alert, Fraudulent Cancer Treatment, and Cyanide Poisoning Risk from High-Dose Supplemental Use (1977, updated 2006) (2006) — regulatory
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cyanogenic Glycosides (Amygdalin, Prunasin) — Rosaceae Fruit Pit and Apple Seed Toxicity in Dogs and Cats, HCN Mechanism, and Clinical Cases (2019) — veterinary
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →