Can Shih Tzus Eat Grapes? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts

Grapes are a delicious snack that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Since many dogs enjoy fruits, you may have wondered if you could share a delicious grape or two with your Shih Tzu.

Maybe you are curious if your Shih Tzu can have grapes because your kiddos are always dropping food on the floor. Regardless of your reasons, it’s extremely important for you to know that grapes are highly dangerous for dogs.

Why Are Grapes Dangerous for Shih Tzus?

Grapes aren’t just toxic for dogs; they are extremely deadly for dogs. Grapes can lead to kidney failure in dogs of all breeds. Interestingly, not all dogs show a sensitivity to grapes, but there’s no way to determine if your dog is or isn’t sensitive to the toxins in grapes without your dog consuming grapes. The risk is just not worth the potentially terrible outcome for your dog.

Why Are Grapes Toxic to Shih Tzus?

Believe it or not, nobody knows exactly what the compound is in grapes that is toxic to dogs. However a recent 2022 study in dogs has shed some light on this and proposes the toxic component in grapes and raisins to be tartaric acid. Still, nobody knows why some dogs aren’t affected by grapes. In fact, it’s possible that some grapes don’t contain whatever the toxic compound is, rather than some dogs not being sensitive to grapes.

The toxicity in cats is not as established as in dogs but yet, it’s best to avoid them since they’ve been linked to kidney failure.

Can My Shih Tzu Safely Have Any Grapes?

Since it’s unknown what the toxicity of grapes is, there is no safe number of grapes for your dog. There is no reason to risk allowing your dog to eat grapes, even in the smallest amount. It’s believed that the “meat” of grapes is likely where the highest content of toxins lies, so even if you offer peeled grapes to your dog, there is a high likelihood of toxicity.

Even one grape can potentially lead to kidney failure and even death for a dog of any size. Keep in mind that raisins are dehydrated grapes, so they have a high likelihood of toxicity for dogs. Their toxicity may be higher since raisins are a more concentrated form of a grape.

What to Do if Your Shih Tzu Eats Grapes

If you saw your Shih Tzu eat a grape or raisin, or if you suspect they may have eaten one, then you should immediately call an animal poison control hotline or take your dog to a veterinarian. If this happens on a weekend, holiday, or after hours, then you should reach out to an emergency veterinarian.

For some dogs, grape toxicity can begin to show an impact within hours of consumption, while other dogs may not show signs for a few days. It’s important to have your dog seen and comply with any follow-up appointments and lab tests recommended by your vet.

Final Thoughts

Grapes are highly toxic to most dogs, although it’s unclear why. Dogs should never be fed grapes or raisins, and if your Shih Tzu eats even one, you should contact a veterinarian. There is no known safe number of grapes or raisins any dog can consume, regardless of size. Small dogs like Shih Tzus are equally as likely to develop grape toxicity as much larger dogs.

Featured Image Credit: Josep Monter Martinez, Pixabay