Grapes, a fruit that is well known around the world. Famous in the summer for being a freshener, available as juice, ice cream, or just as solid fruit.
Grapes are eaten so often and available in most houses in summer, which gives canines an easy reach to this fruit.
Can Dogs Eat Grapes? A question you must have asked yourself this summer if you are a dog owner!
As you might have noticed, our dogs and puppies are very nosy and curious creatures that like to snoop around our tables.
That’s is why we started a series of “Can Dogs Eat“.
We covered a variety of foods that are usually available on the table, mostly fruits and daily foods like Eggs and Cheese.
Can dogs eat grapes?! If yes what are the health benefits of feeding dogs grapes?
Table of Contents
What Are Grapes?
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus Vitis.
Grapes can be eaten fresh as table grapes or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil. -Wikipedia
So, grapes are a type of berries, and as we have seen in Can Dogs Eat Strawberries? Strawberries are okay to be eaten by dogs, however, other berries are not! it definitely sounds confusing, so can dogs eat grapes or not?
let’s see…
Vitamins and Nutrients in Grapes
grapes contain a variety of nutrients and vitamins vital for keeping your body healthy. Nutrients such as the ones found below:
- VITAMIN C: 25% OF DAILY NEEDS OF VITAMIN C. VITAMIN C IS MANDATORY FOR THE REPAIR AND GROWTH OF TISSUE AND BODY CELLS. ALSO KEEPS TEETH AND GUMS HEALTHY.
- ANTIOXIDANTS: ATTACKS FREE RADICALS, FIGHT CANCER, IN ADDITION, GRAPES CONTAINS GLUTATHIONE ( ABUNDANT CELLULAR ANTIOXIDANT).
- VITAMIN K: PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN HELPING BLOOD CLOT, PREVENTING EXCESSIVE BLEEDING, AND PREVENTING HEART DISEASES.
- FIBER: REDUCES BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.
- POLYPHENOLS: PREVENT DEGENERATIVE DISEASES. I.E. INCREASE LIFE RATE AND CELL LONGEVITY.
These are not the only benefits that you can get from grapes. Grapes are rich in Fiber, which is responsible for improving bowel movement. i.e. slow down the digestion of the meals and help the digestive system get the most out of a meal.
This is relatively helpful. Since dogs are carnivores, they mostly eat meat, which needs more time to be digested in comparison to herbivores!
Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
In addition to Fiber, Grapes are full of nutrients and vitamins. they help fix wounds and damaged tissue, keep teeth and gum healthy, fight cancer, and keep the body from bleeding to death!
HOWEVER!
GRAPES ARE POISONOUS FOR DOGS AND CAN EASILY KILL YOUR DOG!
Dogs cannot eat Grapes. Even though this later contains so many vitamins and nutrients, it is lethal to dogs.
A certain poisoning that kills dogs was related to them eating Grapes. Therefore, you should not feed your dog Grapes nor Raisin which are the dried form of Grapes.
It is used in yogurts, cakes, and many other industrial-packed foods. All types, shapes, and forms of Grapes or Raising is lethal to dogs and can easily kill them, whether it was a juice or simply handpicked Grapes from the garden it does not matter!
Consequently, we strongly advise you to NOT FEED your dog Grapes
and keep them away from grapes if you have them in the garden
Grapes and Raisin Toxicity in Dogs
consuming Grapes and Raisins presents a huge health threat to dogs. The Toxicity of Grapes leads your dog to develop What is called Acute kidney Injury, (AKI), which is accompanied by Anuria (a lack of urine production).
It is not clear what causes the kidney failure, however, Clinical findings suggest that raisin and grape ingestion can be fatal, but the mechanism of toxicity is still considered unknown
Grapes Poisoning’s Clinical signs and diagnosis
Dogs will likely die from eating Grapes. It has been medically proven that Grapes, Raisins, grapes juice, Grapes yogurt, and grapes Jam can easily kill your dog.
It needs only a couple of Grapes or Raisins to kill your dog in a matter of 7 to 10 days!
According to Wikipedia, Vomiting and diarrhea are usually the first signs of Grape or Raisin toxicity. They often develop within a few hours of ingestion. Pieces of grapes or raisins may be present in the vomitus or stool. Further symptoms include weakness, not eating, increased drinking, and abdominal pain. Acute renal failure develops within 48 hours of ingestion. A blood test may reveal increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, phosphorus, and calcium.
Treatment of Grapes Toxicity in dogs
Emesis (induction of vomiting) is the generally recommended treatment if a dog has eaten grapes or raisins within the past two hours. A veterinarian may use an emetic to cause the dog to vomit.
Further treatment may involve the use of activated charcoal to adsorb remaining toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and intravenous fluid therapy in the first 48 hours following ingestion to induce diuresis and help to prevent acute kidney failure.
Vomiting is treated with antiemetics. The stomach is protected from uremic gastritis (damage to the stomach from increased BUN) with (H2) receptor antagonists. BUN, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium levels are closely monitored.
Dialysis of the blood (hemodialysis) and peritoneal dialysis can be used to support the kidneys if anuria develops. Oliguria (decreased urine production) can be treated with dopamine or furosemide to stimulate urine production.
The prognosis is guarded in any dog developing symptoms of toxicosis. A negative prognosis has been associated with oliguria or anuria, weakness, difficulty in walking, and severe hypercalcemia (increased blood calcium levels).
Finally, as we have already stated, the Grapes has so many benefits for the body. Being rich in fiber and vitamins and a good source of nutrients. But when it comes to Can Dogs Eat Grapes? The answer is a big bold Hell NO! Unless you want your dog sick by 24 hours and dead by 7 days…
In case your dog has already eaten grapes take them to the closest vet asap, if not, keep them away from Grapes. It is your responsibility!
