Are Grapes Poisonous To Dogs

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Grape and Raisin Poisoning in Dogs

Can Dogs Eat Grapes?

Grape and raisin (dried grapes) toxicity is well documented in dogs.* Although the exact substance that causes the toxic reaction is not yet known, dogs should not eat grapes and raisins because even small amounts can prove to be fatally toxic for a dog.

Dogs of any age, breed, or gender may be affected. Grapes and raisins are bad for dogs because one of the most serious complications of grape/raisin toxicity is they can cause severe kidney damage leading to acute (sudden) kidney failure with lack of urine production (anuria). However, kidney failure is not seen in all dogs after ingestion of grapes or raisins, and again, the reason why some dogs are affected excessively, while others are not, is still being studied.

Symptoms and Types

Grape and raisin poisoning will usually cause dogs to develop some combination of the following symptoms:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea – often within a few hours of ingestion. Vomit and fecal contents material may contain pieces of grapes or raisin.


• Loss of appetite


• Lethargy, weakness, unusual quietness


• Abdominal pain


• Dehydration


• Oliguria (passing only a small amount of urine)


• Anuria (complete cessation of urine)


• Foul breath


• Oral ulcers


• Tremors


• Seizures


• Coma

Causes

Grape and/or raisin ingestion – even small amounts can be toxic for some dogs while other dogs can ingest relatively large amounts without developing obvious symptoms. The toxic agent has not yet been identified but appears to be associated with the flesh of the fruit. In other words, peeled and/or seedless grapes are still toxic.

Immediate Treatment

This is an emergency, needing immediate treatment. If you are positive that your dog ingested grapes or raisins within the last two hours, you will need to induce vomiting as soon as possible, before all the toxins in the fruit can be absorbed.

However, do not induce vomiting if your dog is:

• Unconscious


• Is having trouble breathing


• Is exhibiting signs of serious distress or shock


• Or if you are unsure of what your dog may have eaten.

If your dog has already vomited, do not try to force more vomiting. Call your veterinarian for advice. If he or she recommends that you induce vomiting at home, use the following method:

• If the dog has not eaten within the last two hours, offer him a small meal. This makes it more likely that the dog will vomit but is not essential if the dog is uninterested in food.


• Measure 1 milliliter (ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of the dog’s weight, using either a syringe (no needle) or teaspoon (one teaspoon is approximately five ml). The maximum amount of hydrogen peroxide to be given at any one time is 45 ml, even if a dog weighs over 45 pounds.


• Squirt the hydrogen peroxide into the back of the dog’s mouth using a syringe (no needle) or turkey baster.


• If vomiting does not take place within fifteen minutes of the first administration, you may try again, using the same amount. This method should not be used more than two times, spaced apart at fifteen minute intervals.

If your dog has not vomited after the second dose of hydrogen peroxide, do not use it, or anything further, to try to induce vomiting. Do not use anything stronger than hydrogen peroxide without first talking to your veterinarian.

Whether your dog vomits or not, after the initial care, you must rush him to a veterinary facility immediately. Your veterinarian may need to perform a gastric lavageand/or administer activated charcoal to deal with any toxin that remains in your dog’s stomach, as well as institute treatment to protect your dog’s kidneys.

Diagnosis

Most cases of grape and raisin poisoning are diagnosed because an owner knows or suspects that their dog has eaten the fruit. Sometimes partially-digested grapes and raisins can be seen in a dog’s vomit or fecal material. Routine laboratory tests, including a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis, can diagnose most cases of acute kidney failure regardless of the cause.

Treatment

When treating a dog who has eaten grapes or raisins, a veterinarian will start by inducing vomiting (if the ingestion has occurred within the last two hours and the dog hasn’t already vomited) possibly followed by gastric lavage (washing out the stomach) and administration of activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxin. After this, he or she will begin intravenous fluid therapy to flush the toxin out of the dog’s bloodstream and to encourage the kidneys to keep producing urine. If necessary, the veterinarian will give your dog medications to reduce vomiting and maintain kidney function. During this time, the doctor will be monitoring your dog's kidney function with regular rechecks of bloodwork.

If a dog’s kidneys have failed to the point that they can no longer produce urine, the prognosis becomes grave. Hemodialysis may be necessary to support life until (and if) the kidneys can recover. Kidney transplant may be an option for some owners, but in most cases, euthanasia is the only practical option once a dog’s kidneys have totally shut down.

How to Prevent This Condition

Keep raisins and grapes out of reach of your dog, as dogs will ingest almost anything. Make sure that all family members are aware of the toxic capacity of this food, as well as other foods that have been found to be poisonous to pets, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, etc. If you do discover that your dog has ingested raisin or grapes, acting immediately gives your dog the best chance at survival.

How Toxic Are Grapes for Dogs?

You may be wondering, How toxic are grapes for dogs? The answer: Very toxic. When a dog eats grapes or raisins, it can be a veterinary emergency.

There are several foods that are toxic to pets. From chocolate to grapes, how much is safe to give to your pet?

Consider the story of Rio. His owner Angela found him sick one day. A survey of the kitchen found that grapes that had been left out were eaten by Rio. She rushed him to the veterinarian, where Rio had his system flushed and the staff worked on absorbing the toxin.

Rio was under 24-hour care for almost a week and still needed treatment at home. His diet had to be adjusted to compensate for the kidney damage he had suffered, but he did survive. Not all dogs are this lucky.

Grapes and raisins (dried grapes) are toxic to dogs. The type of grape doesn’t matter; it can be green, red, commercially grown or from your backyard. The source of the toxicity is unknown, but what is known is that dogs have become ill and died from ingesting grapes and raisins.

Grape Toxicity

Several substances have been examined to determine the toxin in grapes, such as herbicides and pesticides. Many possibilities have been ruled out, and the exact component of a grape that causes the toxicity is still a mystery. Grape seed extract is not listed as a threat.

From Rio’s story, veterinary criticalist Nathan Lippo, DVM, DACVECC, says that any amount of grapes can be toxic to a dog.

“The toxin in the fruit is unknown, but we do know it’s in the flesh of the grape — not the seeds, not the skin…. It affects them pretty badly,” says Dr. Lippo.

Toxicity from grapes and raisins can bring about renal (kidney) failure. Treatment will depend on the amount of fruit ingested and how the dog’s body reacts to the toxin.

How Toxic Are Grapes for Dogs?

The amount of grapes or raisins that can hurt a dog can vary by the dog’s weight. Raisins are more concentrated, so it takes fewer of them to cause problems.

According to Small Animal Toxicology, by Michael E. Peterson, DVM, MS, and Patricia A. Talcott, MS, DVM, PhD, DipABVT, there’s a way to get a rough estimate of the toxic amount of grapes or raisins for a dog.

• Grapes: They report that dangerous doses begin at about 0.18 ounces of grapes per pound of dog weight. That’s 1.8 ounces (one or two grapes) for a 10-pound dog, and 3.6 ounces (three or four grapes) for a 20-pound dog.


• Raisins: About 0.07 ounces of raisins per pound of dog weight may be toxic. In real terms, that’s a mere 0.7 ounces of raisins for a 10-pound dog, and 1.4 ounces for a 20-pound dog.

But some researchers say the amount of grapes/raisins eaten may not have any bearing on how much harm is caused to your pet. In their report “Grape and Raisin Toxicity in Dogs,” Michelle Savigny, DVM, and Douglass K. Macintire, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC, of Auburn University discuss how a border collie ate a whole 16-ounce box of raisins and lived, yet a Labrador retriever (a larger dog) died after eating a slightly larger box of raisins.

So here’s the take-home message: Any amount of grapes or raisins should be considered toxic.

Symptoms

A variety of symptoms are possible with grape toxicity:

• Vomiting


• Diarrhea


• Hyperactivity


• Depression


• Lethargy


• Abdominal pain


• Fluid cessation (will not drink water or urinate)


• Loss of appetite


• Tremors


• Dehydration


• Breathing difficulty


• Kidney failure

Death is also a possibility, depending on the amount consumed. The body has to process and absorb the grapes, so death is not instantaneous — but time is important. The sooner treatment begins, the higher chances of recovery you give to your dog.

Treatment

Grape or raisin ingestion should be considered an emergency. Treatment should begin immediately.

If the ingestion was within two hours, vomiting is usually induced and activated charcoal administered. Intravenous fluids may be given for 48 hours. Blood chemistry panels are checked for 72 hours. Other options may include urinalysis, kidney medications or an ultrasound to examine the kidney size and look for mineral deposits.

Prevention

Grape toxicity in pets was recognized years ago when a pattern was found in reports of sick dogs. A common factor was the ingestion of grapes or raisins, and veterinary professionals and pet lovers alike have been trying to spread the word since its discovery.

Avoid leaving grapes or raisins out on counters or in open pantries where your dog might be able to reach them. The same goes for cats; grapes and raisins are toxic to our feline friends as well.

Remember this jingle:

Grapes are sweet, grapes are fine, and even better when in wine.
But one thing you will regret is giving them to your pet.

Some people still do not know about this sweet treat being such a dangerous threat, so please share this article to help us get the word out.