Grapes, Sultanas, Currants and Raisins toxicity
April 7, 2025Hot cross buns are popular at the moment and bring a higher risk of exposure to grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants which are all potentially poisonous to dogs. Christmas cake, christmas puddings, fruit toast and chocolate are also high-risk foods containing these fruits.
If eaten they can cause gut problems and in serious cases, kidney failure or kidney injury
The toxic dose varies from dog to dog, but in some cases, can only take one or two pieces of fruit.
Treatment should be given quickly because left untreated, grape/raisin/currant/sultana poisoning can cause death.
Do not wait for symptoms to appear, if you know your pet has eaten grapes, raisins, currants or sultanas please contact your vet immediately.
Symptoms of grape/raisin/currant/sultana poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Painful abdomen
- Blood in poo
- Lethargy
- Reduced appetite
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know whether a dog will be severely affected or not, even if they have eaten the fruit before without issues.
If your dog is severely affected, they may develop kidney failure over the following 1-3 days. As part of their treatment, your vet will monitor your dog for signs of a kidney problem, and if necessary, run blood and urine tests to check their kidney markers.
Contact your vet immediately if you believe your dog has eaten grapes, raisins, currants or sultanas – do not wait to see if they develop symptoms
