Can Dogs Eat Raisins / Sultanas? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

No, dogs shouldn’t eat raisins or sultanas. All human foods made from grapes should be kept well out of the dog’s reach. Eating too many raisins can have life-threatening consequences for dogs.

How many raisins will hurt a dog?

It will depend on factors like the dog’s body weight. A single raisin, for example, could have a high level of toxicity for small dogs and puppies. A large dog, on the other hand, may only get sick after eating a few raisins.

What happens when a dog eats raisins?

One dangerous health consequence of eating raisins and sultanas is kidney failure. Dogs that suffer from kidney failures will show a number of concerning symptoms such as vomiting, loss of balance, and a significant loss in appetite. We would call the emergency vet immediately as soon as you suspect that your dog has eaten some raisins or sultanas.

How soon after eating raisins will a dog get sick?

Symptoms can start to show a few hours after a dog ate some raisins. You should never assume your dog is okay as animals, in general, are known for “hiding” their sickness when they become vulnerable. For reference, the lowest toxic dose of raisins in confirmed cases has been about 3 grams per kg. An average raisin weighs around 0.5 grams so we could assume a toxic dog of 6 raisins per kg.

What to do if your dog ate raisins

We recommend you call the vet or pet poison hotline immediately, even if your dog only ate one raisin. If appropriate, the vet may ask you to try induce vomiting so that the raisin content is taken out before it has a chance of getting digested in the dog’s body. It’s best to not take any chances if your dog managed to get ahold of grape-based foods. You can find out what human foods are unsafe for dogs to eat by visiting our human foods list.