Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask people to please not leave wild bird food on the floor/within reach of dogs?

60 replies

TaDuck · 20/06/2025 10:14

Several people in my local area have taken to scattering bird seed that contains raisins/sultanas on the ground or on little food stations that are low to the ground. A friend of mine had to take her dog to the vet this morning because he was snaffling around and started tucking in before she realised it was raisins.

Raisins (even in very small amounts) are toxic to dogs, cats and possibly other wildlife like foxes.

I've posted on the FB group for my local area as well but just wanted to put it on here to share as widely as I can!

OP posts:
Flossflower · 20/06/2025 12:22

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:39

There's always one 😆

Show quote history

No there is many!

NotVanHelsing · 20/06/2025 12:16

Floatlikeafeather2 · 20/06/2025 11:15

I have been feeding birds for 60+ years and have yet to come across a shop bought bird food that contains dried fruit so it can't be a massive problem. It sounds like it might be someone getting rid of old muesli or something so again, not widespread. It's good to spread the word about dogs and dried and fresh grapes though. My (adult) niece refused to stop feeding her dog grapes because she had taught him to balance them on his nose and it was, apparently, "c-yoot". Luckily he was a Labrador with a cast iron stomach but some other breeds seem particularly prone to this kind of poisoning .

Same, just not that long.
Parrot food has them, but wild bird food vefy rarely. Must be pricy af....

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 12:15

Hedgehogs aren’t stupid enough to eat things that are bad for them

well some of them used to drink milk left out for them and it gave them the shits so I’m not convinced

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 20/06/2025 12:01

I wouldn't purposely feed raisins or grapes (or onions, chocolate or blue cheese) to a dog but if they did ingest some I would prefer to monitor them for symptoms rather than take the dog in to the vet to be made sick, because the stuff they inject to induce sickness can cause a heart attack.

MoistVonL · 20/06/2025 12:00

Hedgehogs aren’t stupid enough to eat things that are bad for them. Cats too.

And I have seen wild bird food with dried fruit in it in Wilko’s, so it’s definitely available commercially.

If you have the type of dog who’ll eat anything it can fit in its mouth, keep it on a lead.
Other people wanting to feed blackbirds and other ground feeding birds don’t have to change things for someone’s pet lab - who’d probably eat actual poo given half a chance.

ExtraOnions · 20/06/2025 11:59

Dogs should always be on a lead in Public Areas…

Auroraloves · 20/06/2025 11:58

I wish dogs would be kept on leads in residential areas to be honest.

Itallcomesdowntothis · 20/06/2025 11:58

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:39

There's always one 😆

Show quote history

No two. I completely agree.

NewPinkJacket · 20/06/2025 11:56

TaDuck · 20/06/2025 11:53

Totally, but unlike those other things, I do believe people who feed the birds are well meaning and probably just don't realise!

A friend of mine who is a vet told me that they still don't quite know what it is about grapes/raisins that make them so toxic but possibly the tartaric acid. Incidentally some dogs could eat a whole bag and be fine whereas another could eat 1 and it'd cause kidney failure, there is just no way to know. He's known dogs to die due to eating grapes.

Show quote history

I get what you're saying but it still boils down to the same thing - that we as dog owners need to be really vigilant for anything our dogs might snaffle.

Because even if every single MNetter who reads this decides to listen to your warning, that's still going to leave literally millions of non MNetters who won't.

Original poster
TaDuck · 20/06/2025 11:53

NewPinkJacket · 20/06/2025 10:19

I feel sorry for the poor dog but as an owner of two of them, this post could be about anything really.

You have to watch them like a hawk when you're walking them, to make sure they don't gobble these things up.

Hazards here include discarded chicken shop bones, hypodermic needles and wild mushrooms.

Totally, but unlike those other things, I do believe people who feed the birds are well meaning and probably just don't realise!

A friend of mine who is a vet told me that they still don't quite know what it is about grapes/raisins that make them so toxic but possibly the tartaric acid. Incidentally some dogs could eat a whole bag and be fine whereas another could eat 1 and it'd cause kidney failure, there is just no way to know. He's known dogs to die due to eating grapes.

OP posts:
Floatlikeafeather2 · 20/06/2025 11:15

I have been feeding birds for 60+ years and have yet to come across a shop bought bird food that contains dried fruit so it can't be a massive problem. It sounds like it might be someone getting rid of old muesli or something so again, not widespread. It's good to spread the word about dogs and dried and fresh grapes though. My (adult) niece refused to stop feeding her dog grapes because she had taught him to balance them on his nose and it was, apparently, "c-yoot". Luckily he was a Labrador with a cast iron stomach but some other breeds seem particularly prone to this kind of poisoning .

HereintheloveofChristIstand · 20/06/2025 11:01

FartyAnimal · 20/06/2025 10:51

My cat used to eat raisins/sultanas quite a lot! I didn't realise they shouldn't (ps she is very much alive).

Our labrador knocked 5 mince pies off the bird table when he was a puppy and ate the lot. He is still alive and kicking and regrets nothing 😂
I wouldn't deliberately give them to him though! He is just a scavenger.

redboxer321 · 20/06/2025 10:58

FartyAnimal · 20/06/2025 10:51

My cat used to eat raisins/sultanas quite a lot! I didn't realise they shouldn't (ps she is very much alive).

Might explain your user name 😬

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:53

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:52

Hard to get on, they roll up lol

lasso?

Might try that next time.

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:52

Hard to get on, they roll up lol

lasso?

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:51

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:49

Thinking about it red they probably need a harness type lead 🤔

Hard to get on, they roll up lol

FartyAnimal · 20/06/2025 10:51

My cat used to eat raisins/sultanas quite a lot! I didn't realise they shouldn't (ps she is very much alive).

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:51

You got to catch them first

oh and those cuties can move!!!

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:49

Thinking about it red they probably need a harness type lead 🤔

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:49

Never known any bird food that has raisins.

redboxer321 · 20/06/2025 10:47

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:45

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs

get them on a lead apparently 🤷🏻

Lol! 😂And to think, up until now I was glad MN got rid of the laugh emoji!

Original poster
TaDuck · 20/06/2025 10:46

The area I'm talking about is residential (paths with greenery either side) leading to the popular dog walking fields. Lots of off lead dogs but also roaming cats.

To clarify I'm definitely not saying don't feed the birds - we do ourselves but with bird feeders in the trees not directly on the ground. Or if it is going on the ground, people could buy a raisin free mix.

I totally agree that there are always going to be hazards and people need to keep a close eye on their dogs but this seems an avoidable hazard - I've walked past these piles of food myself on the ground and with the best will in the world even a dog on a lead could get at it before the owner has had a chance to react.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:46

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:45

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs

get them on a lead apparently 🤷🏻

You got to catch them first 😆

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/06/2025 10:45

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs

get them on a lead apparently 🤷🏻

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/06/2025 10:44

redboxer321 · 20/06/2025 10:42

And what would you suggest we do with hedgehogs, to site just one example? Raisins are toxic to them as well as a number of other animals. It's not only dogs.

If people want to feed the birds, the should buy proper food and put it in areas where other animals - domesticated and wild - cannot eat it.

The amount of crap food that is discarded in the environment under the excuse of 'feeding the birds' is insane.

Show quote history

I've got dogs and bird feeders always use wild bird food.