Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
No — potentially deadly
No. Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. There is no known safe amount: some dogs get seriously ill after only a few, while others eat more and seem fine. Because you can't predict which dog will react, every exposure should be treated as an emergency.
Why grapes are toxic to dogs
Veterinary toxicologists now believe tartaric acid, found in high amounts in grapes, is the likely cause. Dogs appear unusually sensitive to it. Seedless, seeded, red, green, organic, peeled, dried and cooked grapes are all risky — including raisins in baked goods, trail mix and cereal.
Symptoms of grape poisoning
- Vomiting or diarrhea, often within a few hours
- Lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite
- Belly pain
- Drinking and urinating more, then less or not at all (a sign of kidney failure)
- Bad breath and dehydration in later stages
What to do if your dog ate it
- Remove any remaining food and note roughly how much was eaten and when.
- Call your vet, an emergency clinic, or a pet poison hotline right away — before symptoms start.
- Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. It can cause harm with some substances.
- Bring the packaging with you if you go to the clinic.
How vets treat it
If the dog is seen early, the vet usually induces vomiting and gives activated charcoal, then IV fluids for 48 hours or more while monitoring kidney blood values. Early treatment greatly improves the outlook; waiting for symptoms makes kidney damage more likely.
Can cats eat grapes?
Cats rarely eat grapes, and the evidence is weaker, but they are not recommended. Call your vet if a cat eats them.
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you're worried about your pet, call your vet or an emergency clinic.