There’s something really satisfying about sharing “people food” with our furry friends. And while giving a piece or chicken or cheese for a job well done is perfectly fine, other things, such as grapes, are dangerous to our dogs. 

Dogs cannot eat grapes! 

This seems to be widely known among dog owners and even those who don’t own dogs. But why can’t they eat grapes? What happens if they do eat a grape and what should you, as their owner, do about it? 

Why Can’t Dogs Eat Grapes?

Why can’t dogs eat grapes? Grapes contain tartaric acid which can cause organ damage in dogs when ingested. The problem for us as dog parents is that different types of grapes have varying levels of tartaric acid and not all dogs are going to respond the same way if they happen to eat grapes. It is very important that you avoid giving your dog grapes! 

How Do You Prevent it?

The best way to prevent your dog from experiencing kidney failure due to grapes is the obvious one -- keep grapes away from your dog. But other factors in life may make this easier said than done. If your dog does happen to eat a grape, the best thing to do is to call your vet and/or animal poison control and follow their instructions. Animal poison control is a great resource to have handy in case your dog -- or any pet -- eats something that could be harmful to them. 

Training is another way that you can help prevent your dog from accidentally eating a grape. Teaching impulse control and behaviors like “leave it” and “go to place” can give you the ability to stop your dog from grabbing a grape that may have fallen to the ground. A strong “drop it” cue can also help in situations where your dog may have grabbed a grape before you had the chance to stop them. Management tactics such as setting up a baby gate to block the kitchen or other off limit areas of your house can also prevent your dog from getting into grapes or other potentially unsafe items when you aren’t able to keep an eye on them.