Every mistake must be paid for, rarely by the person who committed it. ~Jacques Deval, French playwright, screenwriter, and film director
I Monkey here.
Mama says confession is good for the soul. I don’t know about that, but if I can teach another pup NOT to do what I’ve done, then maybe confession is all right.
Don’t thank me — I’m generous like that (or at least, I’m trying to be, it being Lent and all!)
One Saturday evening last month, Mama dropped a green ball on the floor, and I was on it in a heartbeat.
Man, was it good!
Cold, juicy, slippery. And just the right size for my puppy mouth.
But Mama had a hissy-fit.
She screamed “No!” at me. She grabbed the furs at the back of my neck. She stomped her foot on the floor.
But it was too late. That ball had been devoured, and I was looking around for another one.
What was this yummy ball, you ask? It was a grape.
And for those who aren’t aware, grapes are toxic to dogs.
Mama grabbed her phone and left a message for my dogtur. She went on Google and found that even one grape can kill a pup.
Imagine that!
Well, she screamed some more and called me all sorts of things good mamas don’t say (especially during Lent).
Then she debated whether to make me vomit or not. The online jury was split over whether that was a good thing, and Mama went with the crowd saying NOT, unless it was under a dogtur’s supervision.
When Dogtur finally got back to Mama, she advised her to watch me closely for signs of kidney failure.
Say what??
Yep, grape poisoning symptoms can take 24-48 hours to show up, and they typically affect the kidneys. That goes for stuff made with grapes, like jelly or fruit juice, too.
I knew this was serious when Mama started crying and fretting over my impending death, saying she wasn’t ready to send another pup to the Rainbow Bridge this soon.
All weekend, Mama didn’t sleep worth beans. She watched me. And that was weird because I Monkey am the one who usually watches her.
Well, I didn’t vomit. Didn’t have diarrhea. Wasn’t lethargic. Didn’t lose my appetite. Didn’t pee more than usual.
In short, no symptoms of distress.
Nevertheless, Mama had me down at Dogtur’s office first thing Monday morning.
Dogtur ran a blood test, and my kidney function was perfectly normal!
(My brofur, the Domer, says it figures that I, who was such a sick pup for the entire first year of my life, would be able to survive eating a grape with no ill effects!)
Anyway, Dogtur urged Mama to keep watching me because sometimes symptoms of grape toxicity take a while to develop. I Monkey think I’m fine — it’s been more than three weeks already. Still, I’ve got some vaccinations coming up in April, and Dogtur will run another kidney function test then to make double-sure I’m okay.
In the meantime, Mama’s not taking any chances. She pens me off every meal-time out of fear I’ll snatch something else that’s okay for humans but not for dogs (like raisins or chocolate):
I need a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card, Mama!
The moral of this story?
For you humans, teach your pups “Leave It” and “Drop It.” Those commands could save their lives. In all fairness, Mama tried, but I Monkey refused to learn. (I’m stubborn like that).
For you pups, when your pawrent says you shouldn’t eat something, they’re not doing it to be mean. Rather, they’re doing it because they love you (and because they’re fond of sleeping at night!)
Signing off,
I Monkey, grape-eater (and despite the date of this post, this is not an April Fool’s joke!!)
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
I knew about chocolate, but grapes? and raisins? Once I thought about it, raisins made sense, because they’re just shriveled up grapes, but still: who knew? I was curious about what it is about grapes that makes them so dangerous, and I learned that there’s a lot of uncertainty about exactly what causes the problem. So, even though it’s agreed that some dogs can escape problems from the fruit of the vine, all that advice for other dogs and for their parents is on target. I’m glad you were one of the lucky ones!
Thank you, Miss Linda. I Monkey am happy, too! When poor Mama started crying, I knew I’d pushed her to the wall. She can only stand so much of my shenanigans before she hauls me off to Sheltie Rescue and they farm me out to a new family. I’m rather surprised you weren’t aware that grapes, raisins, chocolate, and other things are toxic to dogs. Cats, too. Mama says with all the yummy things I can eat, there’s no need for me to be trying to gobble things that are poisonous.
I had no idea about grapes being toxic to dogs!?! Whew…you had me on the edge of my seat reading this, Monk! And I am BEYOND relieved and happy to find out that you’re well and had no adverse reaction. I think your guarding dog-angels were with you. However, I also think you’re extra-special. You’re SUPER DOG!
And this made me laugh out loud…
“I need a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card, Mama!”
Cracked me up!
You take care, you handsome devil! And stay away from those grapes.
X to you and Mama!
Mr. Ron, I Monkey like how you expressed my “guarding dog-angels” watching over me. Mama would say that was probably St. Dallas. Anyway, I, too, am glad to be okay. Much as I loved that grape — and truly, I did! — I don’t want Mama to have to go through another period of grieving so soon after losing Gramma. She told me she went to bed that night, certain that I wouldn’t be among the living the next morning. Thankfully, I was! And when I saw the relief in her eyes, well, it just warmed me all up, and I realized that, for all her talk, she’s come to care about me, heh heh!!
Well, well, little Monkey! You are just like Penny, swooping down and scarfing up whatever mom drops before she can react! We’re talking about putting a fence up (again, she had one there as a puppy) to keep her out of the kitchen whenever I’m cooking. For two reasons. One, is just exactly what you’re describing, but the second reason is that if she doesn’t get a treat she has a temper tantrum and runs around and flies through the air and hits her mom from behind, which could cause serious injury to her and/or her mom. Not to mention there are boiling things on the stove that could be spilled. So for right now her dad has to stand at the entrance of the kitchen and make her sit outside. It’s a pain. I never had a dog with a temper before!
Oh, this comment cracked me up. Penny, Penny, Penny!
Oh, Miss Dawn. I Monkey hadn’t thought about swooping up on Mama from behind! That’s a GOOD one! You rock, Penny!! I don’t have much of a temper; I just pout. Give Mama the side-eye and stare her down until she relents and gives me cookies and such. The grape was a real treat. I had no idea she was keeping such good things from me. But part of me doesn’t want to go through that experience again — and now that Dogtur has told her how to make me vomit, she seems ready to give that a try. Yuck.
In the meantime, my X-pen serves as a perfect fence to keep me away from both the food preparation and the dining. I’m NOT fond of it — isn’t that a baby-thing?? — but I guess it’s better than putting me in my crate. Mama seems to think so anyway.
Monkey, tell Mama we used to give our Liam grapes all the time until we found out they weren’t good for him. No ill effects but we certainly didn’t give him anymore once we knew. I wonder if some dogs are allergic to grapes, and some dogs aren’t. Of course, I wouldn’t want to experiment that way on a new dog if we were to adopt one.
Miss Laurie, I Monkey am here to tell you that grape was wonderful! Mama didn’t think so, but once I’d swallowed it, there was no turning back. I’ve heard tell that some folks, when their dog is transitioning to the Bridge, will give them a little piece of chocolate anyway, just because they always wanted to taste it (and it’s not like it could hurt them then). Maybe I’ll remember that for decades down the road when I leave Mama. I sometimes smell it on her breath, and it makes me swoon!!
So glad that (knock wood) you are okay, Monkey. we have had the same scares over pieces of toy stuffing, missing parts of toys, tissue paper, acorns, and any number of things that dogs should not eat. Normally Twiggy doesn’t jump at things that fall but Tempeste certainly does. I think Mama is very wise to keep the kitchen off limits.
Oh, Mr. John, I Monkey am happy your girls didn’t suffer untoward bad effects from ingesting things they shouldn’t. Acorns?? Hmm, I haven’t tried one of those. Mama doesn’t keep nuts around much (except for peanut butter), but I have seen walnuts on our walks. I guess Tempeste is banned from the kitchen, too — we lungers have to stick together!
Yes indeed.
So glad you’re OK, Monkey! It puzzles me as to how pets survived before we knew all these things were toxic. Back in the ’70s, we gave our dog chocolate every day of his life – his 16 years of healthy life! I don’t think he ever ate a grape but that was only because fruit and veg never tempted him. But we gave him scraps of pretty much everything else we ate – he was a world-class beggar! And lord knows what he ate when he was outside – that was back in the days when dogs were allowed out by themselves. Anyway, I hope there are no lingering after-effects, for either you or your mama!
Miss FF, I Monkey think I’m just fine. It’s been a while, but we’ll have to wait until I get my vaccinations for me to have another blood test. Mama says they used to feed table scraps to the family dogs all the time … and nobody thought a thing of it. I guess “old-time dogs” were sturdier than us new pups! Mama thinks it’s probably the dog food manufacturers, who are putting out these messages so they can boost sales (but maybe she’s just being an old-timer, too, heh heh!)
Well I’m sure glad you’re okay, Monkey! That’s scary. Do raisins count as grapes?
I know some people scoff at some of these rules, like chocolate, but my older daughter’s 80 lb. Basset nearly died from eating chocolate.
I remember my sister having to battle one of her Shelties to reach a dulcolax (laxative) she dropped on the floor! Not deadly, but a deadly mess to clean up!
Yes, Miss Kelly, raisins count as grapes. I Monkey know now that even grape jelly is forbidden — and who wants dry toast in the morning? Whatever hits the floor, I Monkey am on it … before Mama can react fast enough to prevent that. And I mean everything from hot grease to people pills to ladybugs. Mama says it’s a constant battle. I say I’m keeping her agile, heh heh!
Aw, Monk, you just aged your mama 10 years! Glad all is well. Just as an aside, we had a dog when the kids were little and considered herself the clean-up committee. Anything that they dropped she was on it. I’m pretty sure she ate a few no-nos, but managed to live to 15 years. Hope you do the same, Monkey. 💕
What fantastic news, Miss Eliza!! I Monkey have long thought of myself as a Hoover vacuum. I never see Mama eating off the floor, so that must mean whatever’s there is fair game for me! Fifteen years, huh? Well, I’ll just tell Mama that … and maybe she’ll consent to giving me one of those yummy grapes again. (Probably not, if I know her. Sigh.)
Oh no, Monkey! The things you have put your poor Mama through! I had the same thought as your brofur, after being so sick for your first year it’s a miracle you seem to have pulled through this incident unscathed. You look so forlorn behind that gate, but Mama cannot be too careful where your survival is concerned!
Miss Barbara, I Monkey think I might have overheard Mama saying just the same thing (about how I’ve aged her!). Personally, I think I’m keeping her on her toes. Now that I’ve tasted grape, I find my curiosity intrigued by chocolate — but Mama’s pen is proving successful at keeping me from “the good stuff.” Sigh.
Hi Monkey! Yorkie here. Suspenseful story telling!! I was on edge with those horror thoughts of you at the rainbow bridge because you ate a green golf ball. What a relief that the green ball was a grape that had no power over you!!!
Let’s hope that your mama isn’t shopping for any orange jump suits or striped pjs to accessorize your pen. 🐾🐾
Hi there, Yorkie! I Monkey am always happy to see you here. I’m afraid I’m causing a world of trouble for my mama. She worried like crazy over my eating that grape and now, she’s gone overboard with watching me like a hawk to prevent me from getting any more good stuff. I really want chocolate, but she says that’s definitely a NO. As for my “jail,” well, you know I don’t do dress-up, so no prison attire for me (though I’m afraid you’ve got Mama already thinking to Halloween, heh heh!)
Monkey, Monkey, Monkey. Mama tried and has a wonderful heart – but the stubborn have a way of ignoring the messages. Most importantly, you are OK and Mama has made adjustments for your benefit.
I didn’t know that about grapes and dogs – so thanks for the PSA. This reminds me of the story a relative’s dog closed the door that locked them in a bedroom that had a large bag of chocolate Halloween candy. She had a feast – but was fortunate not to have bigger problems. I’m glad you are OK.
Mr. Frank, yes I Monkey have a BIG stubborn streak (that tries Mama something fierce!). She’s being insistent about keeping me penned up during mealtime, though, and I guess that relieves her of guilt when I snatch things I’m not supposed to have. Golly, doesn’t she know that’s part of the fun of watching her eat?!?
I’m intrigued about your chocolate story. Halloween candy sounds yummy — chocolaty and sweet. How I’d love some! Maybe (a hundred or so years from now) when I go to the Bridge, Mama will treat me to some — might be a lovely send-off!!