- Alcohol AND grapes — double danger
- Varies
- Affects: Brain + kidneys
Why this verdict for dogs
Wine is a double danger: the ethanol causes alcohol poisoning, and grapes/raisins used to make it can trigger sudden kidney failure in dogs. No amount is safe.
Warning signs to watch for
- Unsteady walking
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Reduced urination
⚠ If your dog drank wine
Act immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away.
- Note how much was eaten and when.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.
Wine is a genuine double hazard, and the second half of it surprises most people: it is made from grapes, and grapes are among the few foods that can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs with no reliable safe dose.
How much is safe?
None, on both counts. The alcohol is the immediate problem, particularly for a small dog or a cat, and party glasses left on a low table sit at exactly snout height. The grape-derived risk is harder to quantify — the toxic mechanism in grapes is still not fully understood and reactions are unpredictable — but it is not a reason for reassurance. Cats are affected by the alcohol just as much and are more likely to investigate an abandoned glass on a counter.
What happens if a dog drinks too much?
Expect the alcohol picture first: wobbliness, vomiting, disorientation, falling body temperature and slowed breathing. Kidney signs, if they come, arrive later — vomiting that will not stop, lethargy, and reduced or absent urination over the following one to three days. That delayed second wave is why 'he slept it off and seems fine' is not the end of the story.
⚠ What to do if your dog drank wine
Call a vet or poison line with your pet's weight and how much was drunk (ASPCA 888-426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661), and mention the grape component explicitly so the kidney risk is factored in. Early IV fluids do double duty here, supporting the pet through the alcohol and protecting the kidneys. Keep them warm and quiet while you arrange care, and do not induce vomiting in a wobbly animal.
⚠️ Worried your pet got into this?
Frequently asked questions
Does cooking wine into food remove the risk?
It reduces the alcohol but not reliably, and it does nothing about the grape component. Sauces made with wine are best kept off the pet's plate entirely.
My dog drank a little red wine hours ago and is fine — do I still call?
Yes. The kidney concern from the grape content develops over days, not minutes, and early fluids are the whole game with that one.
More drinks for dogs
By the CanMyPet Editorial Team · Reviewed against ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Pet Poison Helpline · Last updated July 31, 2026.
Sources
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- American Kennel Club — Dog Nutrition
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poison List