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The Dog Press did a little research on the details of why raisins and grapes are listed as 'toxic to dogs', and came up with some interesting results:
Has anyone here ever had a dog experience renal failure from eating grapes or raisins?
I think the theory that it's some kind of 'ripening chemical' instead of the fruit itself is a compelling theory. Also, I know many people who used to give their dogs grapes for years before the fruits were added to the 'toxic to dogs' list, and never had anything bad happen. It IS strange, to say the least.Noticeably missing from any “toxic grape and raisin” report we found is any sort of reference to the likelihood of (ii) Pesticide Poisoning. On the contrary, the APCC site displays a puzzling letter from a veterinary toxicologist. It states in part, “Why did the fruit cause the dogs to become ill? No one knows. Suspect grapes and raisins have been screened for various pesticides, heavy metals (such as zinc or lead), and mycotoxins (fungal contaminants) and so far, all results have come back negative.”
When an APCC vet states that grapes caused the dog to become ill even though "no one knows" why, it is confusing at best. If “animal poison control” doesn’t know why or how grapes are poisonous to dogs, the SPCA should sponsor a study to find out! Even more worrisome, the next sentence directly contradicts the flood of warnings from NIH (National Institute of Health), FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and medical universities which stress washing all fruits and vegetables due to high pesticide contamination.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit research and advocacy group, issued a 2007 report in which the pesticide toxicity of fruits and vegetables was ranked according to FDA data. Imported grapes were the 10th worst with domestic grapes ranking 21st on the list of 43,000 samples! In addition to that compelling evidence, National Pet Press published a universally accepted list of pesticide contaminated produce and in 2008 The Dog Place published Produce Pesticides. (ref 6)
Therefore, when the ASPCA APCC states that no traces of pesticides could be found on grapes, it stretches logic (and Animal Poison Control Center credibility) to the breaking point. In fact, it is reminiscent of the (ii) 20/20 Report in which John Stossel asserted that neither organic nor conventional produce samples contained any pesticide residue…
A reasonable person would assume that dogs suffering from classic symptoms of chemical poisoning were poisoned by the chemicals sprayed on the fruit rather than the fruit itself.
Given that no component of the grape has ever been identified as toxic to dogs, (tannins have been eliminated) it could be grievously misleading to blame renal failure on grapes rather than toxic sprays, pesticides, or Lethal Chemicals (ref 7) used to ripen fruit.
Has anyone here ever had a dog experience renal failure from eating grapes or raisins?