Can my dog eat grapes?
Can dogs eat grapes?No
Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs.
No, dogs must not eat grapes – they are toxic to dogs, and so are raisins, sultanas and currants. They can cause acute kidney failure. How much is dangerous can't be predicted, and there is no safe amount. If your dog has eaten grapes, call your vet or an animal hospital immediately, even if it isn't showing any symptoms yet.
Emergency
Has your dog eaten grapes?
Call your vet, the emergency vet service or an animal hospital immediately – even if your dog has only eaten a few grapes and still seems fine. Note down what it ate, how much and when, and take the packaging or leftovers with you. Shortly after eating, the vet can deliberately induce vomiting; this is usually followed by intravenous fluids and kidney value checks over two to three days. Don't try to make your dog vomit yourself, and don't give any home remedies.
Possible symptoms
- Vomiting or diarrhoea, often within 6 to 12 hours
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy and weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive thirst
- Dehydration
- Trembling
- Little or no urine – a sign of kidney failure, usually 24 to 72 hours after eating
When to see a vet?
Immediately – don't wait for symptoms. Treatment works best before the kidneys are damaged, and blood values can still be normal in the first few hours. If your vet can't be reached, the emergency vet service can help. German poison information centres such as Giftnotruf Bonn (0228 19240) or GIZ-Nord in Goettingen (0551 19240) also advise on animals, depending on their capacity.
From what amount?
No safe amount is known. The tartaric acid content varies greatly, and dogs differ in how sensitive they are. As a rough guide, the Merck Veterinary Manual states that even more than one grape or raisin per 4.5 kg of body weight can contain enough tartaric acid to put the kidneys at risk – smaller amounts are therefore not considered safe either. Raisins are small and concentrated, so a dog can quickly eat a lot of them.
In an emergency: call your vet or an animal hospital
Outside opening hours, an emergency vet service or an animal hospital can help. Note down the amount, the time and the packaging, and don't try to make your dog vomit yourself. Poison information centres mainly advise on poisoning in people and only help with animals when they have capacity – the first point of contact for your dog is your vet.
What to watch out for
- Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause acute kidney failure in dogs – regardless of breed, age and size.
- Tartaric acid is now considered the likely trigger. Dogs are poor at excreting organic acids like this, so they build up in the kidney tubules. The content varies with the fruit and its ripeness – which is why dogs react so differently.
- All varieties are affected: seedless or with seeds, red or green, home-grown or from the supermarket, organic or conventional.
- No safe amount is known. Some dogs seem to eat grapes without any consequences, while others fall ill after just a few.
- Raisins are often hidden in muesli, fruit and nut mix, bread, stollen, cakes, chocolates and cereal bars.
- Once urine production stops, the prognosis is poor. The earlier treatment begins, the better the outlook.
How to protect your dog from grapes
How to prevent it
- Keep grapes and raisins out of reach
- Keep bins and compost securely closed so your dog can't get at them
- Ask children and guests not to share any
- Check the ingredients of baked goods, muesli and snacks for raisins
- Secure grapevines in the garden if your dog runs freely there
Never
- Grapes or raisins as treats – not even a single grape
- Waiting after your dog has eaten them to see whether symptoms appear
- Making your dog vomit yourself, for example with hydrogen peroxide or a finger down the throat
- Giving milk, oil or other home remedies
How often?
Never – not even single grapes, a piece of raisin bun or stollen.
Frequently asked questions about grapes
Are seedless or green grapes toxic too?
Yes. Poisoning has been seen after seedless and seeded, red and green, shop-bought and home-grown, organic and conventional grapes.
Are raisins, sultanas and currants dangerous?
Yes. They are dried grapes and just as dangerous. Because they are small and concentrated, a dog can quickly eat a lot of them – for example from muesli, fruit and nut mix, stollen or raisin buns.
Is a single grape dangerous?
That can't be predicted. For some dogs, a single grape is enough to make them ill; others eat more without any symptoms. Because nobody knows how sensitive your dog is, even a single grape is a reason to call your vet.
Can my dog drink grape juice or wine?
No. Veterinary sources have not so far linked grape juice, jelly and wine with kidney failure, probably because processing reduces the tartaric acid. Even so, juice is high in sugar, and alcohol is dangerous for dogs. Neither belongs in the bowl.
Are fresh currants toxic to dogs too?
Fresh currants such as redcurrants and blackcurrants belong to a different plant genus (Ribes) and have not been linked with kidney damage. The risk of confusion lies with dried currants: these are small dried grapes – and they are dangerous.
Does this apply to puppies and large dogs too?
Yes. Grapes and raisins can harm dogs of any age, breed and size. A large dog is not automatically safe.
Why do some dogs tolerate grapes and others don't?
Probably because the tartaric acid content varies greatly with the fruit and its ripeness, and dogs differ in how sensitive they are. This can't be predicted. So the fact that a dog has eaten grapes before without any consequences doesn't mean it tolerates them.
How is grape poisoning treated?
There is no antidote. The vet induces vomiting as early as possible – this can still be worthwhile after a few hours, because the fruit stays in the stomach for a long time. This is usually followed by intravenous fluids for at least two days and repeated kidney value checks. If the kidneys fail, dialysis may be needed.
My dog ate grapes two days ago and seems fine – is everything OK?
Not necessarily. Kidney damage often only shows 24 to 72 hours after eating, at first sometimes only in the blood test results. Have your dog examined by a vet and its kidney values checked.
Which fruit can I give instead?
For example blueberries, watermelon without the seeds and rind, apple without the core, or strawberries – each in small amounts.
Similar foods
- YesFruitBlueberryFresh or frozen, washed and without sugar, in small amounts.See the answer
- YesFruitWatermelonOnly the flesh, without the seeds or rind, in small cubes.See the answer
- YesFruitAppleWithout the core, seeds and stalk, cut into slices or small pieces.See the answer
- YesFruitStrawberryWashed, without the leaves and stalk, and cut into small pieces.See the answer
- In moderationFruitCherryOnly a few, without stones or stalks; stones, stalks and leaves are toxic.See the answer
Sources
- Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind Toxicosis in Dogs – Merck Veterinary Manual
- Grape and raisin toxicity – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning in Dogs – VCA Animal Hospitals
- Can Dogs Eat Grapes? Why Grapes and Raisins Are Dangerous for Dogs – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets – ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
- Vergiftung beim Hund: Richtig helfen – aber wie? (Presseinformation 30/2012) – Bundestierärztekammer
- Giftinformationszentren in Deutschland – Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR)
Reviewed on · DoggoMeal editorial team
This page is no substitute for veterinary advice. Dogs with pre-existing conditions – for example of the kidneys, liver or pancreas, or with diabetes – and dogs with allergies often need their own rules. If your dog has symptoms or you're unsure, ask your vet.
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