Is Grapes and raisins safe for cats and dogs?
| Species | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Cats | Unknown |
| Dogs | Toxic |
Severity: Severe
Read the full first-aid guide: what to do if your pet ate something toxic
Americans almost never hand a dog a bunch of grapes on purpose; the danger rides in on foods that don't look like fruit. Raisins turn up in trail mix, raisin bran and granola-bar style cereal, oatmeal-raisin cookies left on a counter, and the mini boxes of raisins some households give out as a "healthy" Halloween alternative to candy. Pet Poison Helpline calls those raisin boxes out by name, noting they deserve the same locked-away treatment as chocolate because dogs can develop kidney failure after eating only a small amount, sometimes before any symptoms appear.
Facts and examples
- Grapes (including raisins, sultanas, and Zante/Corinthian currants, all Vitis species) are toxic to dogs; ingestion causes GI upset followed by kidney injury. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Raisin ingestion causes vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and can progress rapidly to kidney injury and failure in dogs. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
- Mini boxes of raisins handed out at Halloween are extremely poisonous to dogs and should be stored securely away from pets, the same as chocolate. (source, verified 2026-07-26)
Verdict re-verified against petpoisonhelpline.com, 2026-07-26 — confirmed unchanged. Source
This page is for general information only and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is showing symptoms, or you think they ate or touched something dangerous, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison-control hotline immediately.
Last verified 2026-07-26