As omnivores, dogs must have a balanced and diverse diet. In most cases, this includes a source of fresh vegetables and fruits, whether offered as a healthy gift or included in your pet's homemade food. However, not all human foods are safe for dogs to eat, in fact, some of them are frankly toxic to our four-legged friends. If you are here because you have been wondering if dogs can eat grapes, you should know that this is one of the few fruits that should never be given to pets. Even a single grape can be fatal to dogs, so even a small bite is a big no-no.
Unlike safe fruits for dogs, such as strawberries, apples or bananas, grapes are highly toxic to dogs. The toxicity of the grape can affect any dog, regardless of its breed, age, sex or size, and the consequences are, in most cases, very serious. However, not all dogs will react in the same way with grapes, but for some, eating grapes can cause kidney failure.
Can dogs eat grapes? What about raisins?
Again, let's sum it up: can dogs eat grapes? Absolutely not. Never, in any form or form, give your pet grapes. Now that we've clarified that, let's turn to the reasons why dogs can't eat grapes.
Oddly enough, while the cases of dogs poisoned by eating grapes are well documented, scientists have not yet been able to find out the exact substance in this fruit that makes dogs sick. In fact, there is not even a uniform reaction of the dog to this fruit, apart from the fact that they are generally negatively affected by it, although at varying levels. Some dogs seem to have better results than others, with grapes that cause "only" vomiting and diarrhea, while unlucky dogs that are especially sensitive to the mysterious toxic substance in grapes can experience fatal complications, such as acute renal failure, violent seizures and coma
We cannot say, with certainty, what is the reason for the different side effects that the dog has when eating grapes. What experts can say, however, is that it seems that the toxic substance is found in the meat of the fruit, instead of its skin or seeds, indicating that no form of grapes could be safe for dogs.
While there is no doubt about the possibility of dogs eating grapes, you may be curious about raisins. Seeing how raisins are dehydrated, the same rules apply: dogs cannot eat them. In fact, some experts claim that raisins can be even worse for your dog, since the harmful substance will concentrate even more on the dried version of the fruit. And, again, even the small amount of a few raisins is enough to harm a dog, especially if the dog in question is particularly sensitive.
As is usually the case with, well, everything, there are people on the Internet who claim that the toxicity of the grape is a hoax and that dogs can eat grapes without having any problem. The problem with this is that the specific substance in this fruit that is making dogs sick is still unknown, which means that it could be that the grapes are not poisonous to dogs, but the chemicals used in the treatment of diseases of the fruit. Even if herbicides and pesticides were the cause of the problem, it is the same: it is very likely that most of the available fruit has been treated with the same infusions. So, please, do not take a risk, because it is completely unnecessary to do so, there are many other safe fruits for dogs that you can offer your pet.
Symptoms of grape poisoning in dogs
What happens when a dog eats grapes? Since this fruit is highly toxic to dogs, your pet may experience some serious health problems if consumed. However, while it is true that there is something about grapes that makes them dangerous for dogs, not all four-legged partners react in the same way to grape poisoning. Some pets may shake with milder side effects, such as an upset stomach, while some dogs barely live to tell the story after eating only a grape or two.
According to PetMD, here are the most common symptoms that your dog will show if they eat grapes or raisins:
- Vomiting and (or) diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy, weakness, unusual stillness
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Oliguria (passing only a small amount of urine)
- Anuria (complete cessation of urine)
- Bad breath
- Oral ulcers
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Coma
If you notice that your dog managed to eat grapes or realize that something is missing at the table, the safest route is to try to induce vomiting. Of course, if your dog already did it on his own, you won't have to have it repeated. At this point, you should contact a veterinarian for advice on the best way to proceed. In most cases, you will have to take your pet to the emergency veterinarian, for gastric lavage or administration of activated charcoal, which are intended to counteract the toxicity of the grapes. After that, check your dog for See if they show any of the symptoms of kidney failure is vital, you should do it for a few days. Some doggos are lucky and do not experience any problems, but your pet is more likely to have problems due to eating grapes. At the slightest sign of kidney related problems, such as urinary problems, rush your pet to the veterinarian immediately.
Grape poisoning treatment
Depending on how severe the poisoning is, your veterinarian may suggest different courses of treatment. At best, all of your pet's problems would be gone in the initial stage, after the grape was vomited and the toxins removed quickly. A good rule of thumb is that a dog that does not show any of the most severe symptoms and does not have any subsequent symptoms of kidney failure in the next three days is clear. For dogs that are not so fortunate, treatment can range from intravenous fluid therapy that removes toxins from the bloodstream and encourages the dog's kidneys to work at a healthy pace, until hemodialysis. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a veterinarian to have to sacrifice a dog that ate grapes, because their kidneys were completely closed. However, this serious scenario is more likely in cases where no one noticed that the dog was eating grapes and did not notice the symptoms of kidney failure until it was too late.
Tips to prevent grape poisoning in dogs
It is quite simple, really. Stay away from sharing a bite of your fruit salad, raisin cookies or a sip of grape juice with your stuffed animal bestie. In addition, you should try to avoid having grapes in easily accessible places, if you wish, place them in the refrigerator or eat them immediately, instead of leaving them on the kitchen table or in the closet. Of course, these tips sound as if they came directly from the Obvious Captain, but, in truth, the most obvious solutions are what we tend to overlook first. If we eliminate the instances in which pets received grapes directly as a gift, most cases of poisoning occurred when a puppy stuck its leg in the owner's fruit stash that was free (such as a bowl of fruit on the table from the kitchen) or when they inadvertently shared some of their food that coincidentally contained grapes. Therefore, be careful and keep your pupper safe!
Alternatives to the grape: What fruits are safe for dogs to eat?
Fortunately, the fact that the grapes are not suitable for dogs does not mean that all fruits are prohibited for dogs. There are lots of sweet, sour and acidic fruits that are 100% safe for dogs to eat and, in addition, that dogs find incredibly delicious. Strawberries, apples, pineapple, banana, watermelon, blueberry and many more are veterinary approved additions to your four-legged baby's menu. You can check our recipes section to see the fruit-inspired treats that you can prepare yourself or go to our food blog for more information on what fruits, vegetables and other human foods can or cannot eat dogs.
Why should dogs not eat grapes?
The common grapes (Vitis vinifera) fall within the list of foods that we should never offer to our. Although many studies ensure the toxicity of grapes the truth is that the exact toxic mechanism is unknown.
It is not possible to assure what is the harmful component (which could also be found in varying amounts), the exact dose that a dog should consume or if there is any extrinsic product that is not always present. For this reason, any dose is considered a problem For the health of the dog.
In addition to causing intoxication, the consumption of this fruit causes a higher concentration of blood urea nitrogen and / or serum creatininine, which can in turn cause acute renal failure .
My dog has>
In the absence of conclusive results on the mechanism of toxicity of grapes, it is not possible to know exactly If a single grape is potentially harmful or not. Each individual can also react more or less exaggeratedly to the same amount.
Here are some results after the consumption of grapes in dogs: a dog developed renal insufficiency with only 2.8 milligrams per kilo of weight, while another was euthanized after consuming 4.7 grams per kilogram of weight. On the other hand, between 4 and 5 grapes caused a kidney failure in a dachshund of 8.2 kilograms.
Grape poisoning in dogs
Symptoms of grape poisoning in dogs begin to manifest after 6 hours of consumption and never after 24 hours of ingestion. The most common signs are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia (the dog does not eat)
- Abdominal tenderness
- Lethargy
- Remains of grapes in feces
- Remains of grapes in vomit
- Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
If you suspect that your dog suffers from grape poisoning, we recommend go to the vet urgently, which may begin to perform different tests to ensure that the dog has been poisoned.
To begin, the veterinarian will assess whether the dog suffers from kidney failure, the most obvious sign. In addition, the analyzes performed should show the presence of elevated urea and creatinine, oliguria or anuria, proteinuria, glycosuria, microscopic hematuria and, sometimes, even crystalluria. The prognosis for dogs with oliguria or anuria is unfavorable.
The treatment to be applied to grapes poisoning in dogs will depend on the symptoms shown by the animal. They are generally used emetics to cause vomiting and / or absorbents, such as the use of activated carbon.
Are there other foods that dogs cannot eat?
Are there other fruits prohibited for dogs? Can you eat cherries or tangerine? The truth is that it is better to avoid them. There are several prohibited foods for dogs that it is advisable not to offer, such as onions, chocolate or macadamia nuts. Although in some cases they do not cause death or serious pathologies, they can cause diarrhea and discomfort.
Vegetables and fruits good for dogs
Now that you know the foods you should never offer your dog, it's time to discover new ingredients that yes you can add to your diet. There are several vegetables and fruits recommended for dogs, although for daily consumption you should always bet on the vegetable, since the fruits contain a lot of sugar.
Among all the fruits and vegetables we can highlight the sweet potato, the cooked potatoes, the pumpkin or the carrot, popular for its many benefits and uses. On the other hand, the apple, melon or watermelon are very healthy and will help you hydrate in the hottest times.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can dogs eat green grapes or raisins?We recommend that you enter our section on Homemade Diets.
Why dogs can't eat grapes
When eating grapes or raisins, The dog's discomfort begins in the stomach and intestine and subsequently evolves into kidney failure.
It is normal for the dog to vomit within two hours after eating grapes. Then the diarrhea and lethargic state begins, with a constant feeling of thirst. After 24 hours the renal failure appears, which can be aggravated in the following days.
The dog feels gut pain, loses appetite and feels depressed from discomfort. Vomiting may continue, in addition to tremors. It is produced hypovolemia, a reduction in blood plasma and the dog urinates less frequently.
What to do if your dog eats grapes
(Photo via: dog time)
Surely we have already amply answered your question of whether dogs can eat grapes, but probably now a new question has arisen ... What if he eats them by accident? What I do?
The first thing you should do if your dog eats grapes is induce vomiting. A good option is Try to eat burnt bread. It will cost you, because It is not rich, but it will serve as coal, which serves to decrease the absorption of the substance of the grapes by the kidney. Just after giving your dog the burnt bread, or If you see that you don't get it, don't let time run! Go without hesitation to the vet and tell him what happened. Your dog will need intravenous treatment to clean and balance his body. If you have not managed to eat the bread and vomit, tell the veterinarian and try another method. It is very important that your dog is free of the toxic substance of the grapes, you have to remove it from your body as soon as possible.
In short, should I let my dog eat grapes?
Many people do not know that dogs cannot eat grapes, much less that they are so dangerous to them. Of course, There are dogs that may be lucky not to suffer so many complications, just get sick a few days with diarrhea or vomiting and then heal. For others, instead, It can become deadly, especially if it is not treated. So do not hesitate to react to this problem as soon as possible to solve it.
