Raisins, Grapes for dogs.....

[TerriL]

I was listening to the radio this morning and they had a woman from our local SPCA on discussing keeping your pets happy and stress free over the holidays.  She said that under no circumstances should dogs be given raisins or grapes as it can cause renal failure in some dogs.  I had never heard of this before!  My Buelah LOVES grapes!  I have give her a few every time I have them (which is quite often).  When I bake I always toss the three of them a raisin or two. 
I'm wondering if anyone knows any more about this?  Is this something that happens later in life or can it cause it right away?  I'd appreciate any information that anyone has as I'm really worried about this!
Thanks!

[wittlepawz]

     :hm:   I can't really say I've heard bad things about raisns or grapes.  I know my 2 LOVE frozen grapes. I give them some on hot summer days.

Anybody else out there heard anything?   I'm on pins and needles now!

[April]

Grapevines are toxic to dogs and in large amounts the grapes (and raisins are worse) can make them sick as well.  It is dose dependant and a larger dog could eat more without a problem than a smaller dog - like chocolate.  I've given Cajsa a bite of grape on occasion andnot worried about it, I just don't do it very often that way her system can flush out well.  I'm not really sure what causes the problem, but it gets concentrated in raisins since they are dried so it'd be best to not give raisins as often as grapes.

[Barb]

Rudy loves grapes - but we have discussed this subject several times on the board and it scared me so I stopped giving them to him.  He always had a hard time eating them, so I could bite them in half and give him a half at a time.  I think a few at a time are fine - just not a bunch.

[TerriL]

Hi Barb!  I must have missed the posts on this.  Hey...I'm getting older!  LOL!  I hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving!

[Krista]

Well Terri, it has been quite a while since the topic has come up I think.  It was probably time for it to be discussed again.

I'm with the crowd who says a few here and there is probably nothing to worry about, but I definitely would not make grapes or raisins a daily treat.  My three don't get but a handful of grapes in the course of a year's time.  Usually when I drop them when making fruit salad or something.

[Barb]

no worries - it has been a while - not sure when - probably a year ago !!! HA !!!! I remember stuff from then but not yesterday !!!!

[Julie]

I haven't tried grapes with mine yet, but Libby says that grape tomatoes are pretty good.  Sgt just is not sure about them though!

[TerriL]

You know Julie, every time I see a picture of Sgt I am amazed by how incredibly shiny his coat is.   It just looks like silk! 

[CA_Trixie]

Here's a good article that lists all the foods not good for our puppers.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1661&articleid=1030

Wow, gorgeous coat on Sargent!

[oceangirls]

I agree the effect is most likely cumulative... so an occasional one probably won't cause any harm - but I avoid them just to be safe.  Blueberries are a nice alternative.

I love the pic with the grape tomato... it reminds me of Cassie when I gave her a piece of banana.  She picked it up and put it down and picked it up and put it down until I finally took it away.  The dog will eat cardboard and paper towels, but for some reason not banana .

[wittlepawz]

Thanks for posting that website CA Trixie! 

I had a look at it and thought  :jaw:.  I didn't know about Raw eggs and potatoes.
Even more shocked at Tobacco! I've never seen a dog smoke a cigarette.

[Leslie]

I had a look at it and thought  :jaw:.  I didn't know about Raw eggs and potatoes.
Even more shocked at Tobacco! I've never seen a dog smoke a cigarette.

One time Loki ripped into a pack of cigarettes that a guest had left behind.  I was beside myself thinking that she had eaten them.  Called the vet and THEY did not know.  (Do ya think they might keep a Rolodex of toxic foods near their phone???!?!?  :verdict:) At any rate, like my mom always sez: "The dose is the poison." Turns out she did not eat the cigarettes, she hate the cardboard and then I learned that tobacco is not extremely toxic.  The potato, tomato and tobacco ARE, however, all in the nightshade family, as well as the weed commonly called "Chinese Lanterns"  So, over all, I would avoid feeding these just on the chance that your particular dog has a sensitivity or underlying condition that would be exacerbated by the compounds in this plant family.

One plant mentioned on the website list was peaches.  Loki began her long road to our forever home when she was found in Staten Island with a peach pit lodged in her lower intestine.

Oh, and hops, let's just say that Loki DOES love her "Black & Tan" and will flirt all night with the nearest male if she steals a few sips. Come to think of it, she jumped in bed with our friend John, too.  hmmm...

[/b]

[April]

I think the potato and tomato are the actual plants.  Like if they went out and ate the green plant out of the ground.  That's not good for anyone to do though.  There are several plants that are toxic to dogs/people but the fruits aren't.