Can dogs eat sultanas?

No — extremely toxic

No. Sultanas are dried grapes and carry the same severe kidney toxicity. Found in many UK baked goods — hot cross buns, mince pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding.

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For a detailed calorie breakdown, see 247CalorieCheck.

✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-06-17

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The full picture

Sultanas, along with raisins and currants, are dried grapes and share the tartaric acid toxicity that can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Because they are dried and concentrated, sultanas are gram-for-gram more toxic than fresh grapes. Toxicity is unpredictable — some dogs react to tiny amounts, others eat more and appear fine — so every ingestion should be treated as an emergency. Sultanas are common in the US baking: hot cross buns, mince pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding, scones, teacakes, spotted dick, bread pudding, and Eccles cakes.

If your dog has already eaten sultanas

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your dog consumed a significant amount. Monitor for vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Bring the packaging or a description of the product to any vet visit.

Risks to watch for

  • Acute kidney failure
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Reduced urination
  • Can be fatal without prompt treatment

Safe portion size

None.

Safer alternatives

  • Blueberries
  • Apple slices (core removed)
  • Banana pieces

Does size or breed matter?

Sultanas carry the same tartaric-acid kidney-toxicity risk as fresh grapes, concentrated further by the drying process — the toxic dose scales with body weight, so small dogs reach a dangerous amount from far fewer sultanas than large dogs. There's no known safe quantity for any breed or size; treat any ingestion the same way regardless of how few were eaten.

Common questions

Can dogs eat sultanas?
No. Sultanas are dried grapes and carry the same severe kidney toxicity. Found in many UK baked goods — hot cross buns, mince pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding.
What if my dog accidentally ate a small amount of sultanas?
For most toxic foods, a very small accidental taste is different from a significant ingestion — a lick is unlikely to cause the same outcome as eating a full serving. That said, some toxins (xylitol, raisins, grapes) have no safe threshold. If you're unsure whether the amount matters, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

Related foods

Raisins no Grapes no Currants no
Important: This page is general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different, and individual factors (age, breed, health conditions, medications) can change what's safe. If in doubt, always contact your vet — or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 in the UK.