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Dog Ate Grapes or Raisins? What to Do

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Call your vet now, even for one grape and even if your dog seems fine.
  • There is no known safe amount of grapes or raisins.
  • Tartaric acid is the likely toxin, and amounts vary between grapes.
  • Kidney injury usually shows within 1 to 3 days.
  • Most dogs never develop kidney injury, but there's no way to predict which will.

Table of Contents

Research Which foods? Signs At the vet Prevention FAQ Sources

Dog General Diseases and Symptoms QuickLinks

Lyme Disease Overview Lyme Disease Symptoms Lethargic Dog Fever and Temperature Shaking and Trembling Not Eating Drooling Bad Breath Poisoning Chocolate Grapes and Raisins Xylitol

Grapes, raisins and Zante currants can cause sudden kidney injury in dogs.1,2 The likely toxin is tartaric acid, which dogs can't clear from their kidneys well, and the amount varies a lot between grapes.3,1 There is no known safe amount. Some dogs eat grapes with no problems while others become seriously ill after a few, so every exposure needs a call to the vet.2,4,5 Most dogs that are treated promptly never develop kidney problems.6,2

If your dog ate grapes or raisins:

  • Call your vet, an emergency vet or a pet poison hotline now, even if it was only one or two and your dog seems fine.5,4
  • Hotlines: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. Both charge a fee.7,8
  • Don't make your dog vomit at home unless a vet or poison center tells you to. Vets can do it safely.9,1
  • Go now if your dog is vomiting, very tired or urinating less.1,2

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • The likely toxin was identified in 2021. ASPCA toxicologists linked grape poisoning to tartaric acid after dogs developed the same kidney injury from homemade playdough made with cream of tartar. It is still described as the proposed cause rather than proven.10,3,11,1
  • Grapes vary. Tartaric acid content ranges from about 0.35% to 2%, which may explain why some dogs get sick and others don't.3
  • Most dogs that eat grapes don't develop kidney injury, but there's no way to predict which will. In a study that followed 95 dogs after they ate grapes or raisins (most were treated by a vet), only 1 developed kidney injury, and all survived.6,2
  • Kidney injury is serious. In two studies of dogs that had already developed kidney injury, about half survived (53% of 43 dogs, and 8 of 15 dogs).12,13

Which Grapes and Foods Are Dangerous?

All grapes are risky, whether red, green, seedless or seeded, as are raisins, Zante currants and sultanas. Ordinary garden currants are not linked to kidney injury. Tamarind, which is high in tartaric acid, has also been implicated.1,2,5

Watch out for foods that contain raisins or currants: cereals, trail mix, granola bars, cookies, fruit cake, hot cross buns, chocolate assortments and some jams.2,5 See dog ate chocolate.

Signs of Grape and Raisin Poisoning

  • Within hours: vomiting, often with pieces of grape or raisin, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness and belly pain.1,14
  • After 1 to 3 days: signs of kidney injury, such as thirst at first, then producing little or no urine, worsening lethargy and ammonia-smelling breath.1,2,5

Some dogs with kidney injury also develop nervous system signs such as wobbliness or tremors.13 See signs of kidney failure in dogs.

What Your Vet Will Do

Your vet will usually give a medicine to make your dog vomit if the grapes were eaten recently. In one study, this brought up grape or raisin pieces in 98% of dogs when done within 4 hours, and in 83% at 4 to 12 hours.1,6 Dogs considered at risk usually get IV fluids for at least 48 hours, with kidney blood tests for about 3 days. If kidney values are still normal after 3 days, kidney failure is unlikely.1,14,15 Dogs whose kidneys stop producing urine may need dialysis and have a poor outlook, and some survivors are left with long-term kidney disease.1,2

How to Prevent Grape Poisoning

  • Keep grapes, raisins and raisin snacks off counters and low tables, and teach children not to share them.2,5
  • Pick up dropped grapes and raisins straight away.
  • Don't use grapes as treats, even single ones.2
  • Keep homemade playdough and cream of tartar away from dogs.3

For other poisons, see dog poisoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one grape kill a dog?

It's unlikely but not impossible, because there is no known safe amount. Call your vet even for one grape.

How long after eating grapes will a dog get sick?

Vomiting often starts within hours. Kidney injury usually shows within 1 to 3 days.

What should I do if my dog ate raisins?

Call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away, even if your dog seems fine.

Are cooked or baked raisins safe?

No. Raisins in cookies, bread and cakes are still a risk.

What if my dog ate grapes and seems fine?

Still call. Treatment before signs appear gives the best outcome.

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Sources and further reading

This article was written and fact-checked on October 19, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Hayes C, DVM. Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (Professional), Sept 2024.
  2. Schmid R, DVM, DABVT, DABT; Brutlag A, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT. Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated September 11, 2026.
  3. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic Component in Grapes and Raisins Identified. ASPCApro, December 21, 2022.
  4. Pet Poison Helpline. Are grapes and raisins poisonous to dogs? Pet Poison Helpline, September 23, 2011 (modified May 27, 2026).
  5. PDSA. Grape, raisin, currant and sultana poisoning in dogs. PDSA Pet Health Hub, November 2020.
  6. Dijkman MA, et al. Incidence of Vitis fruit-induced clinical signs and acute kidney injury in dogs and cats: a prospective surveillance study. Journal of Small Animal Practice 63:447-453, 2022.
  7. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Animal Poison Control. ASPCA, accessed Oct 2026.
  8. Pet Poison Helpline. Pet Poison Helpline: 24/7 Animal Poison Control. Pet Poison Helpline, accessed Oct 2026.
  9. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Is It Ever Safe to Induce Vomiting? ASPCA News, November 19, 2019.
  10. ASPCA. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Reaches 4 Million Cases of Pet Toxicity. ASPCA press release, March 9, 2022.
  11. Handley H, DVM. Journal Review: Wegenast CA et al. Acute kidney injury in dogs following ingestion of cream of tartar and tamarinds and the connection to tartaric acid as the proposed toxic principle in grapes and raisins. Pet Poison Helpline, December 13, 2022.
  12. Eubig PA, Brady MS, Gwaltney-Brant SM, Khan SA, Mazzaferro EM, Morrow CMK. Acute renal failure in dogs after the ingestion of grapes or raisins: a retrospective evaluation of 43 dogs (1992-2002). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 19(5):663-674, 2005.
  13. Schweighauser A, Henke D, Oevermann A, Gurtner C, Francey T. Toxicosis with grapes or raisins causing acute kidney injury and neurological signs in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34(5):1957-1966, 2020.
  14. Means C, DVM. The Wrath of Grapes. ASPCA Animal Watch 22(2), 2002.
  15. Porterpan B, DVM. Raisins and grapes: Potentially lethal treats for dogs. Veterinary Medicine / dvm360, May 1, 2005.

About this article

Last updated : new page, written using Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Pet Poison Helpline and PDSA guidance and published research on grape toxicity in dogs.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.