Are grapes bad for dogs? The answer — and this goes for raisins, too — is a big yes. Grapes and raisins are known to be highly toxic to dogs, though research has yet to pinpoint exactly which substance in the fruit causes this reaction.
The breed, size, or age of your pup has no influence on their risk of being poisoned by grapes or raisins. And since even a small amount can be harmful, it’s best that you never give your dog grapes in any form, at all.
Read on to learn more about dogs and grapes, how to spot the signs of toxic ingestion, and what to do if your dog ever eats grapes or raisins.
Which Types Of Grapes And Raisins Are Harmful To Dogs?
Simply put: all of them. Seedless or seeded, commercial or homegrown, red or green, organic or non-organic — all varieties of grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. Even grape pressings from wineries have been known to cause poisoning in dogs!
Foods containing grapes, raisins, or Zante currants (like cereal, trail mix, raisin paste in granola bars, baked goods, some chocolates, and some jams) are all potential sources of poisoning.
Grape juice, wine, jellies made from grape juice concentrate, grape seed extract, and the leaves from a grape vine do not appear to cause toxicity — but to be safe, keep your pup away from all of these things, too.
Currants can be confusing, as the common name “black currant” represents two different species of plants — one of which is toxic. Zante currants from the Vitis species are related to raisins/grapes and can cause kidney failure if your dog eats them. These are typically found in a dried form, and used in baked goods. On the other hand, currants from the Ribes genus are related to gooseberries, and do not result in kidney toxicity. These types of currants are typically eaten fresh, and made into jams, jellies, and liqueurs. Again, unless you’re 150% sure which type of currant you’re feeding your dog — it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Foods That Contain Grapes, Raisins, or Currants
Dried grapes (raisins, sultanas or currants) are considered to be more harmful to dogs than fresh grapes. These dried fruits are often used in baking, so make sure to keep your pup far away from:
- Hot-cross buns
- Cinnamon rolls with raisins
- Cinnamon raisin cookies
- Simnel cake
- Christmas cake
- Stollen
- Fruit panettone
- Fruit cake
- Fruit scones
- Cinnamon raisin bread
- Muesli and granolas that contain dried fruit
- Cereals that contain dried fruit
Plus, any other raisin or currant-including baked goods or foods we may have forgotten here!
Why Are Grapes Bad For Dogs?
Currently, it’s not known what makes raisins and grapes bad for dogs. Over the years, there has been speculation that the toxicity may be due to a mycotoxin (a toxic substance produced by a fungus or mold) or a salicylate (aspirin-like drug) naturally found in grapes that causes decreased blood flow to the kidneys.
More recently, tartaric acid has been proposed as the culprit. Tartaric acid is present in grapes, and may change in concentration depending on the ripeness/maturity of the fruit.
Because of all of the unknowns regarding the toxicity of grapes and raisins, any exposure — even a small amount — is a cause for concern.
Signs and Symptoms of Toxic Ingestion
If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes, or another toxic fruit or plant, look out for these symptoms of toxic ingestion (and call your vet immediately at the first sign):
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy, weakness, and unusual stillness
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea, often within a few hours
- Abdominal pain (tender when touched)
- Dehydration (signs include: panting, dry nose and mouth, and pale gums).
- Increased thirst and/or urine production, diminished amount of urine, or not urinating at all
- Kidney failure (which can be fatal)
What Is Considered A Toxic Dose of Grapes?
Unfortunately, there’s no well-established toxic dose for grapes or raisins. Some dogs may have individual sensitivities, causing poisoning to occur with smaller amounts than other dogs. At this time, there’s no way to predict which dogs may be more susceptible to poisoning, so all pups should be kept away from grapes and raisins.
How Can I Prevent My Dog From Eating Grapes?
Since it’s not known what exactly makes grapes bad for dogs, it’s very important to keep all types of grapes, in all forms, away from pups.
Keep all grapes, raisins, and currants out of reach of your dog. This includes foods that contain any of these ingredients. Be extra careful with raisin or currant-including baked goods — never leave them out on the counter or table where your pup may get into them when you’re not looking.
Don’t share any food that may contain grapes, raisins, or currants with your dog, and make sure that your trash can and/or compost bin have secure lids so that your pup can’t access any discarded grapes or raisins.
You’ll also want to remove any grape vines from areas accessible to your dog.
What To Do if Your Dog Eats Grapes
If your dog has ingested grapes or raisins, treatment is absolutely critical. Contact your vet immediately. They may suggest that you induce vomiting — however, you should not induce vomiting if your dog is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or exhibiting signs of distress, or if you're not sure what they’ve eaten.
You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680.
How Is Grape Poisoning Treated?
If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes or raisins, they should see a vet for treatment as soon as possible. The goal of grape poisoning treatment is to block the absorption of toxins, and prevent or minimize damage to your dog’s kidneys.
This may include emptying the stomach, and administering medical-grade activated charcoal. Grapes and raisins may stay in the stomach for a prolonged time, so emptying the stomach can be beneficial even several hours after ingestion.
Further treatment may also be recommended — including IV fluid therapy and nausea medications to treat gastrointestinal distress and prevent kidney injury. Kidney damage has the greatest chance of developing within the first 2 days after ingestion, so 48 hours of IV fluids is typically recommended.
Affected dogs may need to be hospitalized for several days. During treatment, your veterinarian will monitor your pup’s kidney function daily to assess their response to treatment.
What Is The Prognosis Following Grape Poisoning?
If your dog has ingested grapes or raisins, their prognosis depends on many factors, including: the amount ingested, time from ingestion to treatment, development of symptoms, presence of pre-existing kidney disease, and their response to treatment if kidney failure has developed.
A dog receiving prompt treatment, prior to symptoms developing, may have a good prognosis. On the other hand, if the kidneys have failed and urine is no longer being produced, prognosis is poor and survival is less likely. Dogs that survive kidney injury may develop chronic kidney disease.
FAQs
Can A Single Grape Kill A Dog?
Unfortunately, even consuming one grape or raisin can cause kidney failure and be fatal for dogs.
How Long After Eating Grapes Will A Dog Become Sick?
After eating grapes, some dogs may be sick or have diarrhea within 6 to 24 hours, while others may not show any signs until later. Some dogs' kidneys may begin to fail from one to three days after eating grapes. These dogs may not pee as much as usual, or stop peeing altogether. They also may seem very thirsty and lethargic.
My Dog Ate A Grape But Seems Fine. What Should I Do?
Even if your dog seems fine after eating a grape or raisin, you should contact your vet immediately. Not all dogs get sick right away after eating grapes or raisins, and symptoms can sometimes be delayed by up to 3 days. It’s always best to ask your vet’s advice, even if your dog seems unaffected.
What Other Common Foods Are Toxic To Dogs?
Some other common foods that are toxic for dogs include: onions, garlic, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, raw bread or pizza dough, foods containing the sweetener xylitol, salt, moldy food, and edibles. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so it’s always a good idea to do some research before giving your dog any new food.
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