Can dogs eat grapes?
No, toxic No. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and some dogs react to a very small amount.
Why
Grapes and their dried forms (raisins, sultanas and Zante currants) have caused kidney failure in dogs of every age, breed and size. Tartaric acid is the leading suspect, but the cause is not fully proven and nobody can predict which dogs will react. VCA and PDSA say there is no reliable safe amount, and some dogs react to very little. Treat any amount as an emergency and call your vet or an animal poison line straight away. Fresh blackcurrants and redcurrants (the Ribes family) have not been linked to kidney damage; the dried currants used in baking have. Watch for hidden sources: cereal, cereal bars, trail mix and baked goods.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting or diarrhoea, often within 6 to 12 hours
- Low energy and weakness
- Reduced appetite
- Painful tummy
- Drinking more than usual
- Weeing less, or not at all, as the kidneys fail
If your dog ate grapes and raisins
Call your vet immediately, even if your dog seems fine. Kidney damage often only shows 24 to 72 hours later, when it is harder to treat. Your vet may make your dog vomit, give activated charcoal and put them on a drip with repeat blood tests. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or salt to make your dog sick at home.
If your dog has eaten something toxic
Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.
Australia: poison advice lines
- Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply; its page does not state the amount.
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Open 24/7 by phone or chat. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
- Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. Β£35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, Β£45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
- Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
- Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
- National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.
This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.
Other foods people ask about
Next
Sources
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Grape, raisin and tamarind toxicosis in dogs: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/grape-raisin-and-tamarind-vitis-spp-tamarindus-spp-toxicosis-in-dogs
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Grape, raisin and currant poisoning in dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/grape-raisin-and-currant-poisoning-in-dogs
- PDSA, Grape, raisin, currant and sultana poisoning in dogs: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/grape-raisin-currant-and-sultana-poisoning-in-dogs
- AKC, Can dogs eat grapes?: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-grapes/
- RSPCA, Christmas dangers for pets: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/christmas
Last reviewed 2026-09-29.