My Dog Ate a Grape!

Disclaimer: I published this piece in a local community newspaper. This information is for general education only and is not a substitute for veterinary care—please contact your local veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns about your pet.

My dog just ate a grape–what do I do?

My friend Twyla said that grapes aren’t good for dogs. And she’s smart! But my dog did eat a grape, so what do I do?!

When I eat something I’m not supposed to, I get a tummy ache (or at least my parents tell me I will, but honestly, I’m usually fine). Buster–that’s my dog’s name–he seems fine, too.

Actually, he wanted more grapes. I moved them away so he couldn’t get the rest.

But he already ate one already–so what do I do?!

My parents weren’t home, so I just have to think for myself. I tried observation, something I learned is supposed to be important from Science class. Buster seems fine. He’s his happy… “normal” self. 

I trust Twyla though (she knows lots of things about animals), so I tried to figure it out. I did what a grownup would do. I used the internet.

That didn’t help. 

It just made me freak out–I got so scared that I called the phone number that came up. It was a local vet hospital. Somebody named Sam, who said they were a veterinary technician (which is basically a nurse for animals, which sounds so cool), asked me some questions about Buster. 

I told Sam that Buster ate one grape, it was two Bluey episodes ago, and that Buster weighed about as much as me, and I’m nine years old (behold, my powers of observation!).

Sam went and said he would talk to somebody named Dr. Something-or-Other, then they came back and told me Buster would probably be okay. 

Which, yeah, he sure seemed okay.

They told me to make sure he didn’t barf or anything else gross, then to give my parents a call and see if they wanted to bring him in. But Sam said Buster should be just fine, and that I could relax. 

I was so happy, Buster is special to me. He’s my best friend!

Thank goodness Sam and Dr. So-And-So were there to help me. I didn’t really like being on the internet all that much!

Also… they made me feel like I was taking good care of Buster. Which is nice, because that’s what best friends do, take care of each other. And it turned out, Buster was fine. He never got sick from the grape! He was totally normal.

Well… “normal” for him.