Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
No. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and no safe amount is known — some dogs have been poisoned by a handful. Call a vet straight away if your dog eats any.
- Call your vet or a poison line now — don't wait for symptoms.
- Treatment usually means making the dog vomit, activated charcoal and IV fluids to protect the kidneys, often with blood tests over the next days.
- Early treatment makes a big difference to the outcome.
Call your vet or a 24/7 animal poison line now: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661
- What makes it harmful
- Tartaric acid is the leading suspect; the exact cause is still being studied
- Harmful amount
- Unknown — no safe amount has been established, and sensitivity varies between dogs
- Signs appear
- Vomiting often within a few hours; kidney damage over 24–72 hours
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Belly pain
- Drinking and urinating less
Why
Some dogs eat grapes with no ill effect while others develop acute kidney injury after a few, and there is no way to know in advance which your dog is. Raisins, sultanas and currants are dried grapes and are at least as dangerous — watch for them in fruit cake, mince pies, trail mix and bagels.
Sources
General information checked against published veterinary sources. Every dog is different — ask your vet before changing its diet, and call them if it seems unwell.