I received an email warning this morning in my inbox from a good friend who loves to pass on warnings about dangerous things that might affect my three little dogs.
Knowing that I have grandkids that live with me and that my little dogs figure anything that hits the floor in the way of food is a ground score, she thought that I might like to be aware of the following: Grapes and raisins can be very toxic to dogs. I thought this was crazy. A little grape is going to hurt my precious little pups? But with a little research this is what I found and it is very scary indeed. Many pet owners have been using raisins as a training treat, and some have used them as a "healthy" snack alternative for their dogs without knowing the risk that they are putting their precious pets in.First off they don't even know what toxin it is that can make your animal so sick. It is thought to be due to an unknown compound in the "fleshy" part of the grape so they have figured out that there have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.The scary part is that dogs and some cats like grapes and raisins and since not many people know that they are toxic to animals may be feeding them to their pets. Now as a treat every once in a while may not pose a great threat, they should never be fed to your dogs on a regular basis or left where your dog can accidentally get into them. The unknown toxin damages the kidneys. The type of grape and the type of dog doesn't seem to matter, and the toxic amount may be a small serving to several ounces. Since the exact dose is not known most scientists have estimated as low as 1/3 ounce of grapes per pound of body weight, and 0.05 ounces of raisins per pound of body weight can harm your pet.
