Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

Why would grapes be bad for dogs?

On a TV show a couple of days ago, a pet nutrition expert was interviewed. She mentioned that among the other food items which dogs should not eat were grapes and raisins. Why? Is it the sugar? I can’t think of any other reason grapes would be bad, and my dachshund loves them (let’s face it; he loves anything I give him, from lettuce to fruit; I let him have a little fruit or tomato, etc. as a treat, since they’re low in fat).

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) conducted a review of all related cases in its database. Veterinary toxicologists found that all of the companion canines developed vomiting within six hours of ingestion; the estimated amounts of grapes or raisins eaten ranged from nine ounces to two pounds. Other commonly reported signs included diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy and abdominal pain, and all of the dogs developed evidence of kidney disfunction. Adds APCC’s Charlotte Means, DVM, “Whether the ingested grapes were purchased fresh from grocery stores or grown in private yards didn’t seem to matter, nor did the brand eaten.” Clinical signs lasted for several days–sometimes even weeks. And after aggressive treatment, which included intravenous fluids and medications, half of the dogs recovered, while the others died or had to be euthanized.

At present, the exact role of grapes or raisins in these cases–what exactly is the toxic component–is still unclear. But a dog who has ingested large amounts can now be diagnosed and treated successfully. The first line of defense is decontamination, and the canine should be hospitalized and placed on IV fluids. If the blood work appears normal after three days, it’s unlikely that kidney failure will occur; if there is evidence of renal failure, more aggressive treatment–including fluids, medication and possibly dialysis–is called for.

So don’t do it! You wouldn’t eat dog food, so don’t give your dog human food unless you want to slowly torture or even kill him.

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