I recently heard tell that grapes are bad for dogs.  I coudln't get a decent reason why, so I thought I'd post on here and see what all you smart doggy people had to say.  The only reasoning behind the statement that I could come up with, is that perhaps there is a small level of caffiene (this is all hearsay too), in grapes that are not good for the four-legged humans in our lives.

So what's the verdict?
Drai

Both grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. According to this link   "Although it is not known what component of the grapes or raisins causes renal failure in dogs, certain possibilities have been ruled out, including various pesticides, some heavy metals such as zinc and lead, and fungal contaminants. That dogs react in this fashion to both commercially-produced grapes and those grown informally in their owners' back yards indicates the likely culprit has nothing to do with the growing or cultivation process but is instead basic to grapes themselves."

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

Kath.

Sultanas should also be on that list - in the US they are known as golden raisins, so don't assume they aren't poisonous because many sources of info don't mention them, those sources are usually American....

Good point Digger. :) Mind you I lump raisins, sultanas and currants in the same catagory as they all come from grapes so I assumed they were all poisonous anyway.

Kath.