My dog died today from renal failure. Could this be because he might have ate a couple of grapes?

Question

My 8 month AmStaff passed today from renal failure. We found out today his kidneys were too far gone to fix and was planning on taking him Tues to be put down. Unfortunately, he was having seizures that wouldn't stop and was rushed to the emergency vets and we had to let him go.
We got him at 4 months and he wasn't the usual perky, tear things up kind of dog. He was surprisingly mellow for a puppy and was constantly drinking and having to go to the bathroom and slept all the time.
So my daughter dropped a couple of grapes and he ate them last week. He got worse and worse through the week.
My question is, was it the 2 grapes that caused this? Or could it have been that he might have been born with bad kidneys and the grapes sent him over the edge? I know I shouldn't beat myself up over this, but he touched mine and my family's hearts in a way that it is tearing us up inside. Rest in peace Dozer...:(

Answer 1

A couple grapes alone would rarely, if ever, be enough to cause renal failure. I've known plenty of dogs that eat a couple grapes every once in a while with no ill effects. Except in rare cases where they are extremely sensitive (never actually seen one or heard of one) it's not a high enough amount. If the renal system is already struggling it can cause a very slight addtional strain on the system. Most likely it would have gone that way with or without the grapes. They really do have to eat a good amount to have trouble.



Sorry for your loss.



ADD: I just found a rough toxicity level for grapes which is 32 grams per kilogram of body weight. That means if your dog was around 60 lbs it would have to eat nearly 2 pounds of grapes.

Answer 2

I know that the first thing you want to do is find out what caused it and think about what you could have done differently. I did the same thing with the passing of my dog, but it didn't help at all. A couple of grapes is not going to cause that size dog to go into renal failure. It sounds as though he had health problems early on in life. He delivered everything he could to your family and now was his time to move on.



An individual can never be replaced, but they can be honored. That feeling of emptiness will slowly pass and when you are ready, you can choose to honor Dozer's life by bringing in a new dog to fill the void. I feel as though our dog meant so much to us to we could not live without another one. For my family, it was an immediate decision. For others, it can take years and sometimes it never happens.



RIP Dozer - He'll be waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge.

Answer 3

Technically dogs are not supposed to have grapes (it's on a long list including other things such as macadamia nuts, chocolate, raisins, onions, etc.).



However I think it's most likely that he had bad kidneys to begin with. My dog has been slipped the occasional accidental onion, grape, even rarely she gets into a piece of chocolate. Two grapes are very very unlikely to be the only cause for your puppy's death, the quantity is just too small.



I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. A pet really is like a member of the family.

Answer 4

Grapes are not good for dogs, but 'a couple'? I seriously doubt this was the reason for your sad loss. Going by what you were describing, I'd say he had other issues so don't beat yourself up over this. It's easy to say because we all go through the 'what if's, especially when the loss is so young but the sad fact is sometimes these things happen. Dogs are living beings after all. Just be content that he had a happy, if brief life, with you and that you did the right, and only thing in letting him go.



I'm so sad for you - it just occurs to me that you might get some closure if you go see your vet and discuss what might have happened with your lad?

Answer 5

I'm so sorry for your loss - it's amazing how much pets can touch us in so short a time.



No, while grapes are toxic to otherwise-healthy dogs when fed in large quantities, those 2 or 3 grapes weren't the death of Dozer.



He clearly was ailing from the beginning, and the grapes were simply a coincidence.



BTW - that person who said "I'm a vet" but who said grapes aren't a problem for dogs was clearly lying about her "vet" status. Still, it wasn't 2 or 3 grapes that killed your pup.



Be kind to yourself. You gave your AmStaff several good, caring months of life, and did everything you could. You knew something was wrong, by noticing his drinking/peeing/sleeping. He just wasn't built to last. But you gave him a lovely life while he was here.



I hope your grief passes soon, and your happy thoughts of him live long.

Answer 6

A few grapes would not cause renal failure in a dog as big as yours. He was probably a little sick from birth and that's why he was mellow. Sorry about your loss.



According to this site:



http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/211106.htm



A dog would need to swallow 32 grams per kg of the dogs weight. A small Staff would weigh about 40 lb or 18 kg. So he would need to swallow 576 g or 1.26 lb to cause renal failure.

I'm not sure of the weight of a grape but I am sure it takes a few just to make 1 ounce.



I hope this helps put your mind at ease. And once again I am sorry about your loss.

Answer 7

Poor Dozer I am sorry for your loss. No the grapes did not kill him.It sounds like your dog was doomed from the start,I would say he had weak kidneys all along and was not detected when he was a pup, could be genetic. Next dog you get make sure it has a clean bill of health from a Vet.

Answer 8

There's no way to know for sure unless you have a necropsy done. It sounds like he may have had problems before eating the grapes but grapes are toxic to dogs & can cause kidney problems. Either scenario is possible or it could be something else entirely.

Answer 9

For renal disease to reach the stage of seizures and failure, your dog would have to have been born with the problem. Your description of his lethargy and constant drinking and urinating, indicates this, also. the grapes would have had no affect on the condition. They would have passed straight through the digestive system.

Answer 10

I'm terribly sorry for your loss.



My grandmothers dog started being lethargic, drinking tons of water, and urinating extremely frequently, and she was diagnosed with diabetes and bad kidneys... And died from it about a month later.



I don't think the two grapes sent him over the edge, I just think the kidneys had just failed in their time.



You'll have photographs and memories of your beloved pet. I wish you the best in these hard times.

Answer 11

A couple of grapes would usually have little or no effect on a dog. Sounds like it was just the poor little guys time.

Answer 12

I'm sorry you have lost your dog and so young too. I am sure that the grapes had nothing at all to do with it, your dog was probably born with this problem and nothing you did would have made it worse. So please dont blame yourselves or your daughter because sadly your dog would have died anyway due to the renal failure.

Answer 13

I think it was something he was just born with. I dont believe the grapes had any affect with the death of the puppy. Maybe it was more than 2, like a WHOLE bag, Then i would question it. But deffently not too.





Im Very sorry about your lose. Thats terrible :(

Answer 14

Aww! Im so sorry!

He was only 8 months?

:(

But i dont think so.

But grapes arent too good for dogs.

niether is raisins or chocolate.

Im sorry.

Maybe you could ask your vet.

Maybe your pup wasnt as healthy.

Im sorry for your loss





and if you get a new dog adopt :)



Good luck



R.I.P Dozer

Answer 15

I am so sorry for your loss.



A few grapes would not have caused you lovely dog to die.



From what you have said it sounds like he was born poorly.



May he rest in peace.xxx

Answer 16

Sweetie I am so sorry about that. Grapes had nothing to do with it ok? I know you are just trying to brainstorm and figure it out. Just know that he touched your life and you loved him enough to give him people food. If anything you gave him a special treat that he liked. Most of mine love grapes but think they may be toys. Please do take care.

Answer 17

Grapes are toxic to dogs and can cause renal failure. I'm not sure how much he would have needed to ingest to cause renal failure, but it's possible that eating the grapes contributed to his death. Sorry to hear about your loss. :(

Answer 18

I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS NO IT WAS NOT THE GRAPES IT WAS A GENETIC KIDNEY PROBLEM X

Answer 19

poor doggy



rip

Answer 20

My heart goes out to you for your loss and yes grapes are very toxic to dogs. All it takes is one and it shuts everything down

Answer 21

First of all, I'm sorry.

Second , grapes won't do anything to a dog. Not even with bad kidneys. Probably, what happened was that his kidneys simply continued failing, and the grape incident was just a coincidence.

Answer 22

Of course, no.