 The Short Answer is: |
The short answer is: Grapes are potentially poisonous to dogs. Doesn’t matter what color the plants are or if they are needed or not. It is even poisonous to eat raisins (dried grapes). |
The purpose of this article is to explain “Can Dogs Eat Red Grapes?“.
I’d like to welcome you to my article about dogs eating red grapes.
I have bad news for you because your dog cannot eat red grapes.
In the majority of my articles where I discuss dogs eating human food to hedge their bets.
While many human foods are good for your dog they are not the best either.
Grapes however are different.
Grapes are potentially poisonous to dogs.
Doesnot matter what color the plants are or if they are needed or not.
It is even poisonous to eat raisins (dried grapes).
I use the word poisonous in the sense that it can be deadly.
Why are grapes poisonous?
We do not know exactly why grapes are so deadly which is the truth.
Scientists think that grapes contain a substance that attacks the kidneys in dogs but they do not know much more than that.
How many red grapes would it take to kill my dog?
The frustrating thing is that some dogs can consume grapes with impunity and not suffer any ill effects.
Five grapes have caused death in other dogs.
It does not matter how big or small you are.
Whether you have a Chihuahua Pug German Shepherd or Great Dane they are all at risk for poisoning.
For many toxins there is a relationship between the amount of toxin eaten and the size of the dog.
Essentially larger dogs have a wider margin of error making them less vulnerable.
Unfortunately vets do not know whether bigger dogs are at a lower risk of grape poisoning.
What are the symptoms of grape poisoning?
In the event that the dog is poisoned by red grapes he will probably vomit have diarrhea have a sore stomach or even suffer seizures within 12 hours of eating the grapes.
One red grape has been eaten by my dog. Do I need to do anything?
Providing your dog has eaten only one grape he or she should be fine no matter how big they are.
Is it possible that they only consumed one grape?
Many people have bunches of grapes lying around and it is hard to tell when one or ten grapes have been eaten.
I’m not certain that I would know for sure if my dog ate only one grape.
You might have caught it on film with one of your home security cameras.
Will you have the foresight to check the camera for those motion clips?
If I were you I would probably call my vet out of caution.
What products contain grapes?
Its not just red grapes that are the problem here the threat extends far beyond that.
Even if it were red grapes we could rest assured that the biggest threat is not red grapes but a fruit salad.
Everywhere you turn you will find raisins which are thought to be as toxic as grapes.
It ranges from the breakfast we eat (I think muesli here but raisin bread could also work) to the cereal bars we eat for lunch to the raisins we use for the cakes we bake during Lockdown.
There are raisins in many of the storage areas in our kitchens.
The technical term for them is ubiquitous.
How do I stop my dog from eating red grapes?
The solution is simple- never buy grapes again and throw out any food that contains grapes or raisins!
It could even become a garage sale!
I wish it were that simple.
Was it only up to you to stay organized and clean up after yourself!
However it becomes more difficult when you have to depend on others to be cautious.
Especially when they are kids.
Distractedly walking from one room to another with a cereal bar or protein bar in one hand and a cell phone in the other.
Are they going to finish it or leave it on the coffee table?
Something you can control is storing grapes in the refrigerator rather than in the fruit bowl.
As well as keeping them out of harms way from your dog it will also keep them fresher longer.
Now that we have discussed how difficult it is to keep your house grape-free and dog-friendly lets move on to puppies.
Can puppies eat seedless red grapes?
Scientists do not know the relationship between the number of grapes eaten by a dog and its size (or even if there is one) but it seems safe to assume as with so many other toxins that smaller dogs are more susceptible.
Size is not the only issue here; age and maturity are as well.
The bodies of young and old dogs will not be at full strength so it would be wise to consider these animals more vulnerable.
As puppies are still developing their bodies organs and immune systems will not operate at full capacity.
In contrast older dogs may have weaker bodies and be less able to fight toxins.
However all the talk about the danger posed by red grapes and their like is all well and good but surely there is a home remedy out there a magic cure?
Home remedy for dog eating grapes
Unfortunately they have not.
It is not known whether grape poisoning can be treated at home.
There will be either no symptoms at all (in which case you can breathe a sigh of relief) or your dog will show a few symptoms and you will need to take them to the vet.
Thats how black and white it is.
In this case finding a solution using baking soda or apple cider vinegar will be less than useful.
Your dog should at the very least be taken to the vet immediately after eating grapes or raisins.
The vet will probably advise you to keep an eye on them.
Your dog has escaped this time if after twelve hours it does not seem to have suffered any harm.
What does that mean for your dogs immunity to grape poisoning?
Red grapes were eaten by my dog and he is fine
At this point all we can say is that your dog might not be affected by eating grapes.
Dogs may be able to successfully eat a few grapes on one occasion but that does not mean they will be protected for life.
I think its much more important than if your dog has dodged the bullet once why would you want to risk it again when the consequences could be so dire?
I mean we are talking about red grapes here which are not essential to a dogs diet.
Since we are talking about poisons and threats lets take a look at some other fruits that you should keep your dog away from.
What are other fruits are toxic for dogs?
There are other fruits that if eaten could pose health risks to your dog.
Despite the shortlist of other causes of trouble some of the consequences go far beyond mild diarrhea.
In my opinion this list also includes three and a half other fruits that are toxic to dogs.
First let me talk about half.
Peaches are completely safe for your dog to eat and in fact I have written an article about peach yogurt but be sure to keep the pit and seed out of reach.
The stone contains cyanide so it should not be used as a chew toy for dogs.
Theres something of a theme here in regards to fruits with pits.
Avocados are next on the list.
Each part of this fruit (skin pit leaves and flesh) contains high levels of a toxin that could poison your dog.
Peaches are more like cherries than avocados.
Some cherry flesh can be eaten by dogs but not the stones skin or leaves.
Whats the point in separating the flesh from the seeds?
That did not sound right to me.
Finally and somewhat controversially dogs should not eat tomatoes.
We like ripe juicy tomatoes but anything that is green is not acceptable.
The vines and leaves of the plant themselves contain a nasty toxin that could be harmful to your dog.
If you’re like me and you spend your summers growing tomatoes make sure no four-legged shadows are cast in your greenhouse.
What are safe fruits for dogs to eat?
Once you have established where the fruit “no go” areas are you then need to determine which fruits your dog can eat safely.
Apart from those dangerous fruits above I guess the only limit to the list is your ability to buy them at a reasonable price.
Fruits provide dogs with a huge boost in minerals and vitamins but they should only be eaten in moderation by your dogs.
Fruit contains lots of sugar so the fact that it comes in something “natural” has little effect.
In spite of the sugars lack of effect on your dogs waistline it will do harm to their teeth!
Apples are a favorite of my dogs and they have a couple of mouthfuls every day.
Bananas however are not so popular with dogs although it does have an odd texture.
Perhaps fruit can be used as a reward for training.
Could you swap those dull and dry dog biscuits or those fatty chunks of cheese for a bright orange segment or a blueberry?
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
