Grapes and Dogs

Tiffany was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often used to get himself into some sticky situations. But one day, he managed to snag a box of green grapes from the pantry and ate the entire pound of those sweet treats. After an hour or so, he begin to vomit repeatedly and started shivering. Being exasperated by his behavior, his guardians took him to a veterinarian and there he was diagnosed with renal kidney failure due to grape toxicity...

Grapes and Dogs
Our pets add so much of love and quality to our lives that we look out for different ways to return their kindness and loyalty, or impart some measures of thanks to them. But unlike us humans, obliging them with thank you cards or flowers won't bring them much of delight. Rather, feeding them with their favorite dog food like chicken and rice, dog biscuits, etc., will make them more happy. But in this quest, many dog owners don't realize that there are some food products like grapes (red or green), raisins, etc., which should not be given to the dog. Red/green grapes and dogs don't get along well, and when consumed in large amounts can cause potentially dangerous effects on the life of the pet.

Causes of Illness
The reason why grapes are bad for dogs to eat or why are grapes are poisonous to dogs is still unknown. Grapes or raisins toxicity can cause acute kidney failure in dogs, as it leads to an accumulation of unidentified golden-brown pigment within the renal epithelial cells which unable the dogs to pass urine, and as a result the toxins remain within their bodies.

Symptoms Observed
Behavioral changes can be seen immediately after the dog has ingested large quantities of grapes or raisins. After few hours of ingestion, the dog will start showing signs of discomfort, he'll be highly agitated and become hyperactive. He'll vomit repeatedly and will become lethargic and depressed. The dog will experience severe abdominal pain and will also suffer from diarrhea. He'll become dehydrated and his feces and vomitus will contain partially digested grapes or raisins. Since the dog's body is unable to remove the toxins, he will not be able to pass urine, and if left untreated, this can lead to kidney failure which can also result in the death of the dog.

Treatment
If your dog has consumed large or even small quantities of grapes and/or raisins, immediately rush him to a veterinarian. Emesis (induction of vomiting) is the most recommended treatment, in which emetic like hydrogen peroxide or apomorphine is given to induce vomiting in dog. Further, activated charcoal is given to the dog which will help in adsorbing the remaining toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Intravenous fluid therapy within 48 hours of ingestion will induce diuresis and prevent the risks of acute renal failure. Dialysis of the blood (hemodialysis) and peritoneal dialysis can be performed to support the kidneys if anuria (inability to urinate) develops. Oliguria (decreased urine production) can be cured with dopamine or furosemide, as it stimulates urine production.

Read more on dog health and dog health problems.

The best way to prevent grape toxicity in dogs is to keep them away from grapes and raisins. Whether it's green grapes or red grapes for dogs, avoid giving your pet cookies containing grapes/raisins or chocolate covered raisins as they may prove fatal to your dog. But if you suspect that your pet dog has consumed even a small amount of grapes, immediately contact your veterinarian for instant treatment. However, the approximated toxic dose of grapes is 0.32 oz/kg (ounces of grapes per kilograms of mass of the dog), and for raisins it's 11 - 30 g/kg. I am sure this article on grapes and dogs' will give you a fair idea as to why are grapes bad for dogs to eat or why are grapes poisonous to dogs.