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Some foods are great for humans to eat, but they may be toxic to your pet. One such food is grape jelly.
Grape jelly is one of the cutest additions to your meals, especially breakfast toast, and sometimes you might want to share grape jelly with your dog, but did you know it can be dangerous?
Dogs and grapes are not a match; grapes can harm dogs’ health, and any by-products of grapes or any ingredients containing grapes may be toxic to dogs.
In severe cases, dogs that ingest grapes can exhibit unhealthy symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and even kidney failure. So when you are tempted to give your dog food containing grape jelly, refrain and put it away.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the potential risks of grape jelly for dogs, what is in grapes that makes grapes toxic to dogs, and treatments for grape toxicity.
Let’s start by understanding what’s in grape jelly that’s causing so much trouble for dogs.
What’s in grape jelly?
As the name suggests, grape jelly is made purely from grapes. It is often made into a sweet jelly and used in toast, cakes, pastries, and many other dishes.
It is a sweet jelly, more like jam, and can also be made homemade. Grape jelly is generally made by boiling grapes and then mashing them.
Once they are pureed, the next step is to strain them and add a generous amount of sugar to the jelly.
Pectin is also used in grape jelly. Pectin helps thicken grape jelly, and there is also a sugar-free gum that can be used to reduce the sugar content in jelly, but please note that grape jelly is only suitable for human consumption, not for pets.
Why is grape jelly bad for dogs?
Grape jelly is made purely from grapes, which are known to contain substances that are toxic to dogs. The basic harmful substance in grape jelly is sugar; too much sugar is harmful to humans and animals.
Grape jelly contains a lot of processed sugar, which may lead to diabetes, obesity, etc. health problems This can lead to serious health problems in the future.
No other substances and ingredients have been found to be toxic to dogs, but grapes in general are said to be harmful to dogs’ health, and any by-products of grapes, such as grape jelly or grape juice, can have the same adverse effects on dogs as eating grapes. .
Eating grapes can even cause kidney failure and it is recommended to keep grapes away from dogs.
Potentially Harmful Ingredients in Jelly and Jam
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of diet and animal care will know that jellies and jams are harmful to dogs and should never be exposed to them at any time.
Jelly and jam contain harmful ingredients that may cause serious health problems in dogs. they are:
- fruit: Jelly is made from almost any kind of fruit, and fruit flavors like grape, cherry, lemon, or plum should be avoided as they are harmful and toxic to dogs.
- sugar: One ingredient that affects humans and animals is sugar. In terms of total sugar content in foods, jelly is one of the sugariest foods. Sugar adds flavor and enhances texture.
Sugar doesn’t do many good things for the body; in fact, it can quickly lead to diabetes in humans and dogs. It can also cause obesity in dogs, which can lead to other serious health problems. - acid: Another harmful ingredient in jelly or jam is acid. Generally, it is made through lemon or lime, which helps form the jelly. These acids are very dangerous to a dog’s digestive system.
Acid can cause stomach upset in dogs, along with vomiting and weakness.Well enough cause diarrhea If consumed in large quantities. - Pectin: It’s one of the most troublesome ingredients in jelly. It is used to provide thickness to jelly or jam.In humans, pectin can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, and many other symptoms digestive problems If consumed naturally without help.
Pectin can have similar effects on dogs, and it is best to keep pectin out of reach of dogs.
7 safety steps to take if your dog ingests grape jelly
When your dog eats grape jelly, it’s an emergency situation, and by following a few steps, you can keep your dog safe.
- The first thing you should do is stay calm, your dog will panic when he sees you panicking. Therefore, you should stay calm.
- Then, evaluate the type of jelly your dog is eating, if it is a jelly that is not toxic to dogs, and keep an eye out for anything unusual in your dog
- If your dog ingests grape jelly, watch for any discomfort and contact your veterinarian immediately
- If your dog doesn’t show any discomfort after eating grape jelly, wait a few days and check the stool to see if the body has passed the jelly or is still in the system
- If you witness ingestion of grape jelly, inform your veterinarian of the amount of grape jelly your dog ingested
- Collecting a sample of the jelly your dog has ingested and taking it to your veterinarian for examination will simplify the diagnosis and treatment process
- If you notice signs of grape poisoning, provide your dog with fresh water and allow your dog to calm down. Do not induce vomiting without consulting your veterinarian.Go to your veterinarian and seek immediate medical help
What is grape poisoning?
There is no conclusive evidence as to what exactly causes grape poisoning in dogs, but it can certainly cause a disorder in the dog’s system.
There are substances in grapes that are nearly impossible to digest, and grapes often cause dogs to choke. These threats are enough to keep grapes away from dogs.
Grapes contain a substance called tannin, which blocks the absorption of iron in the body to a certain extent, which then affects the kidneys because it cannot get enough iron to work properly. In severe cases, this can lead to kidney failure, which can sometimes be fatal. Grapes in any form are not suitable for dogs to eat.
Symptoms of Grape Poisoning in Dogs
There are some symptoms of grape poisoning in dogs that, if ignored and left untreated, can cause serious damage to your dog’s health.
Here are some common symptoms of grape poisoning in dogs.
- Vomit: Your dog may begin vomiting, and the vomitus may contain grapes or raisins after ingesting grapes.
- diarrhea: One of the symptoms of grape poisoning is diarrhea or Loose stool.
- lethargy: Eating grapes can cause sudden changes in your dog’s behavior and make your dog lazy and sleepy.
- Lack of hunger: Your dog will skip meals due to congestion in his digestive system, which can eventually lead to loss of appetite and weakness.
- Excessive thirst: Your dog will feel thirsty after eating grapes; keep fresh water available at all times.
Grapes in any form, whether juice, jelly, or raw fruit, are toxic to dogs, and ingestion requires immediate medical attention.
Treatment of Grape Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog has grape poisoning, the first thing you should do is contact your veterinarian and ask for instructions. Your veterinarian may tell you to induce vomiting, and you should only induce vomiting under your veterinarian’s guidance.
Inducing vomiting within 24 hours after poisoning can prevent the poison from further soaking and remove the remaining poison from the stomach.
Or the veterinarian may induce vomiting on their own or try other methods, such as gastric lavage under anesthesia, to prevent the absorption of harmful substances.
Your veterinarian may give intravenous fluids to strengthen your dog’s digestive system and provide some strength after weakness caused by poisoning. This also increases the load on the urinary system, which will start working and help flush out toxic substances.
It also helps the kidneys function properly, as your veterinarian may prescribe other medications to your dog that will help stimulate the kidneys. Urine production is critical in grape poisoning, which otherwise may lead to kidney failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, dogs can eat other types of jelly besides grape jelly, but these should also be non-toxic.
No, there is no safe amount of grapes or grape products for dogs to eat. Any amount, regardless of size or in any form or shape, can cause serious health problems in dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
Tomatoes, cherries, raisins, and avocados are some fruits that are very harmful to dogs and should be avoided.
in conclusion
Grapes in any form can be fatal to dogs. Grapes, jelly, sugar and other toxic substances can be harmful to dogs and lead to conditions such as diabetes and kidney failure.
Use this article as your guide to learn about grape jelly toxicity to dogs, how to treat it, and what to do if you encounter it.
Dr. Lillian is a DVM with a passion for raising awareness about dogs. She shares her expertise through her blog at canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology and urgent care. Dr. Lillian is committed to animal welfare.
