As grapes and raisins stay in the stomach for a prolonged period of time, inducing vomiting is very important (even up to 4-6 hours after ingestion). This helps to prevent absorption of the toxin from the stomach or intestines. The best treatment is to decontaminate the dog right away by inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal. The goal of treatment is to block absorption of the toxins and prevent or minimize damage to the kidneys. The test results will help determine the dog's likelihood of recovery. Your veterinarian may also recommend diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), a serum biochemistry profile, and a urinalysis to assess the amount of damage to the kidneys. Your veterinarian will base a diagnosis of this poisoning on a history of eating grapes, raisins, currants, or the presence of pieces of grapes or raisins in the dog's vomit. More severe signs are similar to kidney failure from other causes. Unfortunately, the symptoms of grape or raisin poisoning are non-specific and early signs are similar to a variety of things including simple dietary indiscretion (eating foods that should not be eaten). Once the kidneys have shut down and urine output has dropped, the prognosis is poor.

Following this, the dog's blood pressure often increase s dramatically. The dog may lapse into a coma due to a build up of substances which the kidneys usually eliminate from the body through urine. Signs of acute kidney failure include nausea, lack of appetite, vomiting, uremic (ammonia odor) breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and excessive urination. As poisoning progresses, the kidneys will stop functioning and the dog may not be able to produc e urine. More severe signs are not seen for 24-48 hours after ingestion – often after acute kidney damage has already begun. Lack of appetite, lethargy, and possibly diarrhea can be also seen within the next 12-24 hours. which is generally seen within 24 hours hours following ingestion. The most common early symptom of grape or raisin toxicity is vomiting. What are the symptoms of grape or raisin toxicity? As with any toxin, the sooner the poisoning is diagnosed and treated, the less dangerous it will be for your pet, and the less expensive therapy will be for you. Since there are still many unknowns associated with this poisoning, it is better not to take any risks when it comes to your dog's health. If you suspect that your pet has eaten any of these fruits, contact your veterinarian, Pet Poison Helpline or an animal poison control service immediately. What should I do if my dog eats grapes or raisons? Since it is currently unknown why these fruits are toxic, any exposure should be a cause for potential concern. More recently, it has been considered that tartaric acid may be the cause. However, to date, no specific toxic agent has been clearly identified.

Over the years, there has been speculation as to whether the toxicity may be due to a mycotoxin (a toxic substance produced by a fungus or mold) or a salicylate (aspirin-like) drug that may be naturally found in the grape, resulting in decreased blood flow to the kidneys. Why are raisins, grapes, and currants toxic?Ĭurrently, it is not known why these fruits are toxic.

At this time, t here is no way to predict which dogs may be more sensitive. Some dogs appear to be tolerate to small doses of the fruit without consequence while other dogs may develop poisoning after eating just a few grapes or raisins. Unfortunately, there is no well-established toxic dose for any of these fruits but there are two principles to keep in mind: 1) Dogs are more likely to become poisoned if they ingest large amounts of fruit and, 2) there appears to be ‘ individual ’ sensitivity in dogs. Foods containing grapes, raisins, and currants (such as raisin bran cereal, trail mix, granola mix, baked goods) are all potential sources of poison. Grape jellies, grape juice and wine do not appear to cause a toxicity concern. Poisoning has occurred in dogs following ingestion of seedless or seeded grape varieties, commercial or homegrown grapes, red or green grapes/raisins, organic or non-organic, and grape pressings from wineries. What types of grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs? R aisins can commonly be found in combination with other foods, potentially increasing the risk of e xposure as compared with grapes and currants.

While a favorite and healthy snack for people, g rapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs.

My dog ate a grape