✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last reviewed: 2026-04
Can dogs eat raisins?
The full picture
Raisins, sultanas, and currants are all dried grapes and carry the same severe risk of acute kidney failure in dogs. Because they're dried, the toxic compound — tartaric acid — is more concentrated per gram than in fresh grapes. A single raisin has caused kidney failure in some small dogs, and even a small handful is a serious risk for any size of dog. The unpredictability makes raisins particularly scary: some dogs eat them without incident, while others develop kidney failure from minimal amounts. There is no reliable 'safe dose'. In the UK, raisins are a major cause of Christmas-season vet emergencies because they're hidden in so many seasonal foods.
If your dog has already eaten raisins
- Call your vet immediately — even if only one raisin was eaten
- If your vet is closed, call the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000
- Try to work out how many raisins and what they were in (a mince pie typically contains 15–25 raisins)
- Do NOT induce vomiting yourself unless your vet tells you to
- Do not wait for symptoms — treatment in the first 1–2 hours is most effective
- Save any packaging or remaining food — the vet may want to see it
Information to have ready when you call:
- Number of raisins eaten (count or estimate)
- What the raisins were in (plain, mince pie, cake, cereal bar)
- Brand/product name if possible
- Time of ingestion
- Your dog's weight
- Whether your dog has vomited on their own
Risks to watch for
- Acute kidney failure
- Vomiting (often first sign)
- Lethargy and loss of appetite
- Increased thirst initially, then reduced urination
- Uraemic (fishy) breath in severe cases
- Death without treatment in worst cases
What to watch for — and when
[{'when': 'Within 6–12 hours', 'signs': 'Vomiting — often the first sign, sometimes with pieces of raisin visible'}, {'when': '12–24 hours', 'signs': 'Lethargy, reduced appetite, diarrhoea, increased thirst'}, {'when': '24–48 hours', 'signs': 'Reduced urination — a serious warning sign that the kidneys are failing'}, {'when': '48–72 hours', 'signs': 'Advanced kidney damage; outcomes much worse without aggressive treatment'}]
Hidden sources to check
- Mince pies — one of the most common accidental exposures
- Christmas pudding and stollen
- Hot cross buns and Easter baked goods
- Fruit cake, Simnel cake, Dundee cake
- Raisin bread, teacakes, raisin toast, malt loaf
- Scones, buns, and currant buns
- Trail mix, granola, muesli, and cereal bars
- Oatmeal raisin cookies, carrot cake, Chelsea buns
- Some chocolate bars and confectionery (Fruit & Nut, raisin chocolate)
- Some protein bars and 'healthy' snack bars
Breed-specific notes
- All breeds at risk, but smaller dogs reach toxic doses faster — a single mince pie can be enough for a small terrier.
- Flat-faced breeds: never induce vomiting at home due to aspiration pneumonia risk.
Safe portion size
None. Zero. No amount is safe.
Safer alternatives
- Blueberries (a much safer sweet-treat swap)
- Frozen banana slices
- Unsweetened dried apple rings
- Small apple chunks (seeds removed)
Garden grape vines are another hidden hazard — check which plants are toxic to dogs before letting your dog roam freely outside.
Common questions
My dog ate one raisin — is that really an emergency?
What if my dog ate a mince pie?
Are sultanas and currants the same as raisins for this?
My dog ate raisins years ago and was fine — are they OK this time?
What if the raisins were cooked into a cake?
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