This dog blog will answer the major question, “Can dogs eat grape leaves?” we will also discuss the reasons for not giving grape leaves to your dog, what you can do if your dog ate a lot of grape leaves, and how to prevent your dog from eating grape leaves.
Can dogs eat grape leaves?
No, dogs cannot eat grape leaves. Grape leaves are not toxic for your dog but they could be if they have pesticides on them. Also, your dog cannot consume grapes with grape leaves and it could cause disaster as grapes are unhealthy for your dog.
Why are grape leaves not good for your dog?
Following are the reasons for grape leaves are not good for your dog:
Grape leaves cause lethargy in your dog
Grape leaves are capable of causing lethargy in your dog. The exact reason is not known but some people say that leaves are not the diet of the dog which is why they shouldn’t be given to your dog.
Lethargy and restlessness could be the major signs in this regard. It depends upon age and various other factors such as breed and sex. Lethargy can reduce the work efficiency of the guard dogs so you should be aware of what you are giving your dog.
Moreover, it could be lethal if your dog consumes too much of them. Lethargy in your dog can also increase the weight of the dog if your dog continuously eats more and more without any restrictions.
Grape leaves cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dog
Grape leaves are not best for your dog and they’re not good at digesting it. If there are a lot of grape leaves in the stomach, it could stimulate the vomiting center of the brain to remove the undigested leaves from the stomach.
The indigestion of the leaves can also cause diarrhea in your dog. Both vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration in your dog which can prove lethal if not treated in time.
The blood volume will decrease leading to hypovolemia which ultimately leads to hypovolemic shock and the death of your beloved four-legged friend.
Grape leaves can cause loss of appetite in your dog
If there are more and more undigested leaves in the stomach it could stop the urge of eating anything. The urge to eat is controlled by the liver. If the liver is not able to perform its function because the food is not properly digested and absorbed in the bloodstream, it could lead to decreased appetite in your dog.
The decreased appetite can cause less food intake and eventually the weight of the body will drop from its normal level. After some time the body will enter an emaciated state which will reduce the reproductive efficiency of your dog if you have a female dog. Your dog will not be able to sustain pregnancy in this case.
Grape leaves can cause toxicity in your dog
Grape leaves are not toxic themselves but can cause toxicity if they have pesticides or insecticides sprayed on them.
Following are the key clinical signs of toxicity in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Tremors
- Anemia
- Urine color changes in some cases
If it is not treated in time it can prove life-threatening to your dog. Fluid therapy is a good option in this case but you need to take your dog to the vet. He will decide whether to give fluid therapy to your dog. He might go for antibiotics too.
What can you do if your dog ate too many grape leaves?
You should immediately call your vet if you see your dog eating it. Your vet will examine your dog and will perform some tests to check the patency of the liver and other organs. After that, your vet will go for treatment of your dog.
You should take care of your dog after your vet will treat your dog.
How can you prevent your dog from eating grape leaves?
Following are the ways by which you can prevent your dog from eating grape leaves:
- You shouldn’t plant grapes in your yard.
- If you do plant grapes in your yard, fence it to protect it from your dog and other wild animals.
- You should call your vet and seek his advice if you are planning to plant grapes in your yard.
- Please do not use pesticide spray in your yard.
Conclusion
In this dog blog, we entertained our important question, “Can dogs eat grape leaves?” we also covered the reasons for not giving grape leaves to your dog, what you can do if your dog ate a lot of grape leaves, and how to prevent your dog from eating grape leaves.
