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The short answer
No. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are all potentially poisonous to dogs, and in serious cases they cause kidney failure, according to the PDSA. There is no known safe amount: the toxic dose varies from dog to dog and can be very small. If your dog has eaten any, contact your vet or an out-of-hours vet now, even if your dog seems well.
This page is not veterinary advice. It sets out what the PDSA, Blue Cross and the ASPCA publish; your vet decides what your dog needs.
Which fruits and foods count
The PDSA groups grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas together as one family of fruit, Vitis vinifera, that can cause gut and kidney problems in dogs. Blue Cross lists grapes and raisins among the fruits that “should always be avoided” for dogs.
The fruit is often hidden inside other food. The PDSA says poisonings “tend to be most common around festive times”, when the fruit is in foods such as:
- Christmas cake
- hot cross buns
- cookies
- chocolate
A raisin-filled chocolate is a double risk: chocolate brings its own poison, theobromine, explained in chocolate poisoning in dogs. Blue Cross says chocolate may contain other harmful ingredients “such as certain nuts, raisins and alcohol”, and advises contacting your vet or Animal PoisonLine even when the amount of chocolate looks low. Sugar-free cakes and sweets can add a third hazard, the sweetener covered in xylitol and dogs.
How much is dangerous
No source gives a safe amount, and none gives a toxic dose to compare against. The PDSA says the toxic dose “varies from dog to dog, but in some cases, can be very small”, and that dogs can become extremely poorly, sometimes fatally, after very small amounts, “especially the dried fruits”.
Past experience does not protect your dog. The PDSA says “it’s impossible to know whether a dog will be severely affected or not, even if they have eaten the fruit before without issues”. Blue Cross makes the same point: “some dogs are much more sensitive to grape toxicity than others”.
Why grapes are poisonous to dogs: the sources differ
| Question | PDSA | Blue Cross | ASPCA |
|---|---|---|---|
| What causes the poisoning? | Not currently known | “The exact cause of toxicity to dogs is unknown” | Tartaric acid “is speculated to be the toxic component” |
| What does it damage? | Gut and kidneys; kidney failure in serious cases | Kidneys; risk of kidney failure | Kidneys |
| When do signs show? | Severe signs can start “just a few hours after eating”; kidney failure can develop “over the following 1-3 days” | “Symptoms of poisoning usually show within 24 hours” | Not stated |
The cause is still uncertain. The ASPCA’s tartaric acid explanation is presented as a theory, not a finding. What all three agree on is the kidney damage.
Signs of grape and raisin poisoning
The PDSA lists these signs:
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- a painful abdomen (tummy)
- blood in poo
- low energy
- reduced appetite
As the kidneys become affected, Blue Cross says you may notice “drinking and urinating excessively”, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Blue Cross also warns that “once the kidneys have failed, the prognosis is poor”.
Waiting for these signs loses time. Some dogs show nothing at first, and the PDSA says kidney problems “can take a few days to develop”.
What to do if your dog ate grapes or raisins
- Call your vet now, or an out-of-hours vet if your practice is closed. The PDSA says to contact your vet immediately “do not wait to see if they develop symptoms”.
- Do not try to make your dog sick at home. Making a dog vomit is something the vet does, by injection, when it is still worthwhile.
- Take the packaging or what is left of the food with you, or photos of it. The PDSA says this “might help your vet”.
- Tell the vet what your dog ate, roughly how much, and when.
What the vet may do
The PDSA describes the care a vet may give: an injection to make the dog vomit, worthwhile only soon after the fruit was eaten; activated charcoal to trap toxins; a fluid drip to support the kidneys; and blood tests, sometimes repeated over a few days, to check the kidneys. Blue Cross notes the vet “will likely try to induce vomiting as soon as possible” and that the outlook “is much better if your dog is given rapid treatment”.
The PDSA’s outlook is clear: a dog treated quickly “is likely to make a full recovery”, while dogs that are not treated quickly enough “can become very poorly and sometimes even die”.
Other foods on the same list
Blue Cross puts onions, leeks, chives and garlic on the same “always avoid” list for dogs. If you also have a cat, see onions and garlic for cats and lilies and cats for the hazards in the kitchen and the vase.
Before you act
Read the PDSA page on grape, raisin, currant and sultana poisoning. The PDSA says its advice “is for UK pets only”. If your dog has eaten any of these fruits, phone a vet before you read anything else.
Questions about this page
My dog ate one grape and seems fine. Should I still call the vet?
Yes. The PDSA says to contact your vet immediately and not to wait for symptoms. The toxic amount varies from dog to dog and can be very small, and a dog that ate grapes before without problems can still be badly affected.
Are raisins worse than grapes for dogs?
The PDSA says dogs can become extremely poorly after eating very small amounts, especially of the dried fruits: raisins, sultanas and currants. All four are treated as poisonous.
Can dogs eat Christmas cake or hot cross buns?
No. The PDSA notes that grape poisonings are most common at festive times, when the fruit is in foods such as Christmas cake, hot cross buns, cookies and chocolate.
Sources
- Grape, raisin, currant and sultana poisoning in dogs (PDSA)pdsa.org.uk
- Poisons and hazards for your pets (PDSA)pdsa.org.uk
- First aid for poisons and toxins (PDSA)pdsa.org.uk
- Poisonous foods for dogs (Blue Cross)bluecross.org.uk
- What fruit and vegetables can dogs eat? (Blue Cross)bluecross.org.uk
- Can dogs eat chocolate? (Blue Cross)bluecross.org.uk
- People foods to avoid feeding your pets (ASPCA Animal Poison Control)aspca.org