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Oh No! My Dog Just Ate Raisins! Are They Toxic? What Should I Do Now?

If your dog just ate raisins, the first thing you should do is contact your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic right away. Veterinarian Joanna Woodnutt examines what you can expect, and why these dried fruits are so toxic for our canine companions.

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Last Updated: June 6, 2023 | 8 min read

Dog Eating Raisins From Counter

This article was written by a veterinarian, but it should not substitute as contact with a trained professional. If your dog ate raisins and is reacting adversely, contact your local veterinarian immediately.

Whether your toddler dropped raisins on the floor or you’re deciding whether to use them as a training snack, it’s important to know that raisins are toxic to dogs. Raisins are dried grapes, which are also toxic to our canine companions in their original fruit form.

If your pup’s managed to pick some from your counter while you weren’t looking, this is something to take very seriously and will likely require veterinary intervention. The extent of the harm will depend on many variables, so it’s important to consult with your vet.

In this article, we’ll look at why raisins are considered toxic, just how toxic they are, and what you should do if your dog ate raisins. We’ll also look at what you can expect, once you contact or visit your local veterinarian.

What Are Raisins?

Golden Dried Grapes

Raisins are grapes that have been dried.

Raisins, sultanas, and currants are naturally dried grapes. All of these, along with seeded and non-seeded grapes, are a concern if ingested as they have the potential to be fatally toxic to your dog.

Raisins are abundant in snack foods, and they are commonly found in products, such as cereals, granola, protein or cereal bars, oatmeal, cookies, flapjacks, malt or raisin bread, trail, and dried fruit mixes, as well as several kids’ snacks. While grapes are also toxic to dogs, grape juice, grape jelly, and grape extract are usually not as much of a concern.

What Do We Know About Raisin Toxicity?

Bowl of Golden Dried Grapes

Tartaric acid found in grapes is the most probable cause of the fruit’s toxicity in dogs.

Until recently, raisin toxicity has been poorly understood. It was discovered in the 1980s when the first computerized toxicity database started to show a trend of renal failure in dogs that had eaten grapes or raisins.

Once the connection had been made, cases flooded in, but vets were still left struggling to understand just why raisins are so toxic to dogs – and how to predict which dogs would be affected.

There have been suggestions over the last 20 years that a mycotoxin (produced by molds) or a salicylate acid found in grapes and raisins could be responsible for the toxicity. However, tartaric acid is now suspected to be a more likely underlying cause of the toxicity.

Links were identified by a clever emergency veterinarian following a dog that suffered vomiting and acute renal failure (similar clinical signs to those seen in raisin toxicity cases) following ingestion of homemade playdough.

With the help of members of the Animal Poison Control Centre (APCC), this has been investigated further. Two common components found in both homemade playdough and grapes were identified as potassium bitartrate and potassium salt of tartaric acid (cream of tartar).

Due to a broad tolerance and safety window seen in people, this component was previously overlooked as a possible toxin. Further investigations are ongoing, but knowing what makes raisins so toxic to dogs is the first step in developing better protocols for poisoning cases.

What Happens When Dogs Eat Raisins?

Sad Orange and White Dog Looking Up

Vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are usually the first signs of raisin toxicity in dogs.

Vomiting is the first common symptom seen in the initial 24 hours following raisin ingestion. Other gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea and poor appetite may also be seen.

More serious signs, which may indicate kidney damage, may take up to 48 hours to develop. These include prolonged vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, excessive thirst and urination, abdominal pain, and bad breath.

As exposure to the poison continues, your dog may become less responsive, stop producing urine, and have difficulties controlling its blood pressure.

Other symptoms of raisin poisoning include:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Poor appetite
  • Signs of nausea e.g. lip-smacking and salivation
  • Restlessness
  • Lethargy
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • A decline in mental status

It is important to note that the early presenting symptoms can occur with many different diseases. This means you don’t know if raisins were ingested, it can be quite difficult to predict the outcome. This may impact your vet’s ability to diagnose your pup and begin the correct treatment. Please consider all food that’s been eaten and possible toxin exposure when discussing the situation with your veterinarian.

Kidney damage causing kidney failure is the biggest concern. This can occur following the ingestion of even a small amount of raisins. The kidneys are vital for eliminating a number of the body’s toxins as well as controlling circulating blood pressure, so damage is serious.

Acute kidney injury caused by raisin toxicity can sometimes be managed and clinical signs reversed, but the prognosis may be guarded as the kidneys cannot repair themselves.

How Many Raisins Will Harm A Dog?

Small Bowl of Dried Grapes

There is no specified formula to know how many raisins can harm a dog.

Unfortunately, there is no established toxic dose for raisin poisoning in dogs as the signs can be variable and unpredictable. Some dogs appear to be more ‘sensitive’ than others to raisin poisoning. And the condition can be highly variable.

While bigger dogs can usually withstand larger amounts of other toxic foods, it’s not the same with raisins. Even one raisin can have a negative impact on a dog as large as an English Mastiff. This means that vets have to take any raisin intake seriously in a dog, regardless of whether they’ve eaten them previously and survived.

My Dog Ate Raisins. What Now?

White Spitz Dog Being Checked by a Vet

Contact your vet or poison control center right away if raisins were ingested.

If your canine companion just ingested raisins, there are a few steps you’ll immediately want to take. Follow these steps to get your canine companion the attention they need right away.

Step 1:  Call Your Veterinarian Or A Poison Control Hotline

Be prepared to tell them the breed and size of your dog, the type of raisins or grapes they have eaten, and approximately how many they may have taken. You’ll also need to tell them whether or not you are 100% sure raisins were consumed, or if you notice signs of toxicity. They will be able to advise you on best how to proceed based on your circumstances.

A free resource in the US is the National Capital Poison Center which can be reached at 800-222-1222.

Step 2: Follow Your Vet’s Instructions

Your veterinarian will make an assessment as to the best course of action. If your dog has eaten raisins in the last 4-6 hours, your veterinarian may suggest making them sick. Never force your pup to vomit after eating raisins unless you have been instructed to do so by your vet.

It’s more likely that your vet will recommend an appointment so your pup can be sick safely, and so they can administer other treatments. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions to ensure the best outcome for your pet.

What Will My Veterinarian Do?

Corgi Being Checked by a Vet

Your vet may primarily make your dog vomit if that hasn’t yet occurred.

The first thing your vet will do is called ‘decontamination.’ This involves trying to reduce the amount of toxin available for your dog to absorb. If your pup has not vomited, your veterinarian can give an injection to cause vomiting. This will help remove as many raisins as possible. Your vet might also give your dog some activated charcoal. Activated charcoal binds to the toxin and prevents a dog’s body from absorbing it.

If you’re confident that all the raisins eaten were removed, no further treatment may be required. It may be recommended that you bring Fido back to the vet for a blood test. This will help monitor kidney function for a day or two.

However, if it is not thought the toxin has been completely eliminated (because an unknown amount was eaten, or some may already have been absorbed), your dog may need to be hospitalized for blood tests and a fluid ‘drip’ (intravenous fluids) to support the kidneys.

Monitoring kidney function can be done with daily blood samples, as well as monitoring urine output and blood pressure. Symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain can also be controlled with supportive medication administered by your veterinarian.

Could Pet Insurance Help?

If your pet insurance covers exam fees and your dog needs to be examined, there is a good chance your policy will reimburse those costs based on your policy details. However, if you are a new customer, vet expenses will not be covered until after your policy’s defined waiting periods, so signing up once you have an existing health concern is not going to help this time. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any current pet insurance plans.

This is why it is a great idea to sign up for a pet insurance policy when your pet is young and relatively healthy to ensure you will be covered when you need it most.

Will My Dog Be Okay?

Sad Dog Looking Up

The faster you can get treatment for your pup, the higher the chances of survival it will have.

If you see your dog eat raisins and get treatment quickly, he is likely to have a very good prognosis. However, dogs that end up with symptoms of kidney damage have a poorer prognosis. In this case, your vet may advise that you consider euthanasia to prevent suffering.

In one early study, 50% of dogs with symptoms died after raisin poisoning. However, treatment has improved, and one study suggested that three-quarters of dogs survived even if they had symptoms after eating raisins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will one raisin kill a dog?

It is unlikely that one raisin would be enough to kill a dog, but in several dogs that are particularly sensitive, it is possible that even a small amount can be very serious. Since we don’t know why some dogs get symptoms and some do not, it’s best to contact your veterinarian after any raisin ingestion.

Is there a raisin toxicity dose calculator?

Unfortunately, due to the unpredictable effects of raisins and grapes on each individual dog, a raisin toxicity dose calculator is not available.

Will all dogs develop kidney failure if they eat raisins?

Only a very small number of dogs will go on to develop a fatal acute kidney injury after eating raisins if they are made to vomit. As long as you act quickly, it is likely your pup will recover.

Can dogs eat cooked raisins, such as raisin bread?

Cooked raisins and raisin bread are just as toxic to dogs as uncooked raisins and grapes. If cooked raisins were consumed, you should follow the steps outlined above to give your pet the best chance of recovery.

How to avoid toxin ingestion or exposure?

It is advised to keep all raisin products in a safe place in your kitchen, out of reach of your pup, to prevent him or her from eating raisins. Discuss the risks with friends and family members (including your children) to help avoid accidental exposure.

Be mindful of possible toxin risks in situations such as children’s parties or picnics, where dogs are not being watched closely – consider shutting dogs away.

Are other species affected by raisin toxicity?

Cats appear to be much less likely to ingest raisins, but there have been a few reported cases of toxicity in this species. Raisins do not appear to be toxic to birds.

What other toxins should my dog avoid?

Chocolate (particularly dark chocolate or large amounts of milk chocolate), grapes, antifreeze, alcohol, human medicines, some household plants, and flowers e.g. daffodils and tulips, are a few of the common household poisons you should be aware of as a pet owner.

Final Thoughts

Raisins and grapes contain naturally occurring toxins for our canine companions, and ingestion should be taken seriously in all instances. Caution needs to be taken as dogs can be unpredictably sensitive to different amounts and on different occasions, even if previous exposure has been seen.

Importantly, if you act quickly, your dog is likely to make full recovery following raisin ingestion. The longer your dog is left without treatment, the higher the chance of problems.

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety or care advice. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, insurance expert, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

Leave a Comment

12 Comments

Liz Damelio

December 21, 2022 at 7:23 pm

Thank you for your comments. They were reassuring. We found our 6 year old shih txu ate a piece of carrot cake with raisins. We acted quickly and took her to the vet. They induced vomiting, found 10 raisins and did charcoal trestment. She had no symptoms but is on an IV So far so good but she is staying with the vet for a couple of days.

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Rebecca

November 7, 2022 at 8:07 pm

Actually 1 raisin can be very bad for a large breed dog while 1 raisin in a small breed dog might be fine. It’s not totally understood why different breeds have different reactions but it’s not a “by weight” kinda issue you really must call a vet even if 1 raisin is ingested.

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Ewan

July 28, 2022 at 2:28 pm

Hi so I think my dog has eaten a currant (if they have it's only one) but my family don't have all that much money so we can't take him to the vets if it's not serious. What should I do? (My dog is a 8 month old cocker spaniel).

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Michelle Schenker

July 28, 2022 at 3:01 pm

It would be wise to call the pet poison hotline to discuss this. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's phone number is (888) 426-4435.

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Heather

July 16, 2022 at 10:09 pm

My husband and I left this morning to go around to the neighborhood yard sales I locked my dog up in the kennel. We were gone for 2 hours thankfully we have a dog camera but it wasn’t until after we got back we found out she was out of the kennel and had gotten into raisins. The dog camera showed it wasn’t until 20 minutes after we left she got out and got into them. They were on the kitchen counter. We rushed her to the vet and they drained her stomach so far she’s been tired but is starting to act like herself after almost 12 hours

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Michelle Schenker

July 16, 2022 at 11:20 pm

It would be wise to take your dog to the vet for an exam.

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Edward lee

June 26, 2022 at 5:25 pm

My dog is aprox7-8yrsold half boxer half bull massive I was snacking on raisens( sun valley raisens from california ,wasn't thinking and let him eat 10 -14 raisens nothing in the past has bothered him at all and my memory is bad and I forgot about raisens toxic to dogs he weighs 80 lbs I used the garden hose to flush his stomach with in half hour he coiffed and sit up some fluid x3 flushing but no raisens came out it's been an hour now and no signs its sunday so no vets available in Billings will he be ok any info will be appreciated thank you

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Michelle Schenker

June 26, 2022 at 7:51 pm

Call an emergency vet outside of your area if you have to or the ASPCA pet poison hotline for advice. Hope your dog is okay.

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Nikita

June 24, 2022 at 11:05 pm

My 3 year old border collie ate about 10 raisins 13 hours ago. I was extremely worried and showed my family articles and told them that it is extremely dangerous and we should take her to the vet, they laughed at me and said I was being dramatic and that she would not eat something that would be bad for her, and that we should wait and see how she does. These are all alarm bells and I know in my heart that nothing good will come of this. My family refuse to take her to the vet and I can already see that she is not doing okay. Her nose is extremely dry and she is so lethargic which is unusual for her breed and character. I don’t have a license or any means to take her to the vet myself and I feel so trapped and worried and I don’t know WHAT to do. She is still so young and what I wanted to ask is even if she doesn’t receive treatment, is there still a chance ( what are the statistics) that she may survive? Also, any tips on how I can convince my family that we should’ve gone to the vet 11 hours ago????????? It’s 5am now and she ate the raisins at around 3:30pm . I can’t sleep I am so worried and feel so responsible if anything happens to her

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Michelle Schenker

June 25, 2022 at 8:49 am

Nikita, if you are able to call an emergency vet in your area, that would be your best bet. They can help you figure out the best way to proceed and help talk with your family if needed as well. Hope your pup is doing okay.

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Someone

June 15, 2022 at 6:06 pm

I took some raisins as a snack cause I got hungry a bit before 1am (I'm in Finland so a few minutes ago) and I accidentally dropped one raisin CLOSE to my dog. As soon as I dropped it I tried so hard to find it and then I saw my dog's mouth move like he was eating something and now I'm panicking that I accidentally caused my dog an early leave to death. I don't want to wake up my mum but I know this is serious so I'm not sure what to do. Please help, I can't sleep without feeling anxious right now cause in a few hours is his vet time in the morning and I'm not sure if he'll even survive before that. It was one raisin. He's a maltese dog that's smaller from the average.

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Michelle Schenker

June 16, 2022 at 11:54 am

I am not sure the size of your dog (smaller dogs would be affected by smaller volumes than larger dogs) but most would be okay if they ate 1 raisin. But since they are highly toxic, you should definitely consult your vet, especially if you notice vomiting or any other concerning symptoms.

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