Reviewed Jul 2026
Can dogs eat grapes?
ToxicNot even one
No. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure, there is no known safe amount, and sensitivity varies from dog to dog.
At a glance
- Safe amount
- None established
- Main risk
- Acute kidney injury
- Symptom onset
- 6 to 24 hours
- Also applies to
- Raisins, sultanas, currants
Reference information, not veterinary advice. If your pet has eaten something, contact your vet or a poison control line.
Why grapes are dangerous
The mechanism is still not fully understood. The leading hypothesis points to tartaric acid and its salt, potassium bitartrate, which dogs appear to metabolise poorly. What is well documented is the outcome: ingestion can trigger acute kidney injury, sometimes after a single small serving.
Susceptibility is unpredictable. Some dogs eat a handful with no measurable effect, others develop kidney failure after a few grapes. Because there is no reliable dose-to-weight threshold, every ingestion is treated as an emergency.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting, often within 6 hours
- Lethargy, weakness, or loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea and abdominal tenderness
- Increased or, later, sharply reduced urination
What to do now
Call your vet or a poison control line. Say roughly how much your dog ate and when, and bring the packaging if there is any. Early treatment is what prevents kidney damage, so waiting for symptoms is not the safer choice.
Sources
- Food Hazards, Merck Veterinary Manual
- People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center