Pet ate something toxic? ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435
Tailwise

Fruit

Can dogs eat raisins?

No Toxic

Raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount. Some dogs are affected by just a few.

Why Tartaric acid is the leading suspect; dried fruit is more concentrated than fresh grapes

By Maya HartReviewed by Tailwise Editors ·

If your dog ate some

  1. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
  2. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
  3. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
  4. Early treatment — making your dog sick at the clinic and a drip to protect the kidneys — is far more effective than waiting for signs.

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting, often within a few hours
  • Diarrhoea
  • Lethargy and loss of appetite
  • Belly pain
  • Producing little or no urine (kidney failure, 1–3 days later)

Dogs and cats, side by side

Dogs Toxic

No. Raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount. Some dogs are affected by just a few.

Cats Toxic

No. Poisoning is reported much less often in cats, but cases of kidney injury have been described. Treat raisins as toxic to cats too.

Can cats eat raisins?

The details

Why some dogs are badly affected by raisins while others eat a handful with no ill effect remained a mystery for decades. In 2021 veterinary toxicologists proposed tartaric acid, which grapes contain in high amounts, as the likely culprit. It would explain why the amount varies so much between grapes and batches — but it doesn’t make any amount safe.

Raisins hide in many baked goods, especially at Easter and Christmas. Because kidney damage can appear a day or more later, a dog who seems perfectly well after eating raisins still needs a call to the vet.

Safer treats your dog can have instead

Questions owners ask

Can dogs eat raisins?

No. Raisins, sultanas and currants can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount. Some dogs are affected by just a few.

What makes raisins risky for dogs?

Tartaric acid is the leading suspect; dried fruit is more concentrated than fresh grapes.

What are the signs to watch for in dogs?

vomiting, often within a few hours, diarrhoea, lethargy and loss of appetite, belly pain, producing little or no urine (kidney failure, 1–3 days later).

What should I do if my dog ate raisins?

Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to. Early treatment — making your dog sick at the clinic and a drip to protect the kidneys — is far more effective than waiting for signs.

Is raisins safe for cats too?

No. Poisoning is reported much less often in cats, but cases of kidney injury have been described. Treat raisins as toxic to cats too.

Sources

  1. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: people foods to avoid
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: toxicology
  3. Pet Poison Helpline: poisons

Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts

More foods for dogs

One useful email a week

Seasonal safety alerts, one new guide and one quick answer. No spam, unsubscribe in a click.