Category: Animal House
I just received the following email, which I thought I would pass on to all dog lovers.
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Didn't know this, but apparently grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs. See below ( I verified this on snopes - it's true)
Dottie
(Below written by a vet)
This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at
MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix who ate
half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday.
He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but
the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.
I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure
but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in
immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the
doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but....Anyway, we
contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to
give IV fluids at 1 Ã,½ times maintenance and watch the kidney values for
the next 48-72 hours.
The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less
than 27) and creatinine over 5 ( 1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are
monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and
started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over
40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids.
At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to
MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as
overnight care.
He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have
continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a
diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still
couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his
BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated
and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to
220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.
This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins
could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very
serious risk. Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be
toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats
including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate
concern.
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio
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Feck! that's not many raisins for a dog that size, chocolate is also deadly, as are onions, fried or otherwise.
My guide dog has that kind of problem. I didn't know grapes were posiness. My dog has had two fits two years ago. He is a cross Lab Retriever. His favourite frute is apples.
This is very interesting. Although I would never give any of my dogs raisins or grapes in the first place, it's still good to know. Thanks.
Thank you Bob! I try not to give Daisy any human except for lunch meat! Yesterday my mom told me to give Daisy a cookie! I was eating one I didn't know Daisy was looking at me! I politely told my mom that I wouldn't give it to Daisy! Caus of the chocolate cookies! I felt bad for telling my mom and Daisy no! I felt like I had to say no for Daisy's safety! Another thing is that Daisy will sneak human food without me knowing it and my Mom will sneak her stuff!
I had heard of this before you posted it Bob, but I'm glad you did anyway. I guess this comes back to why you're dog or cat should only eat the food designed for them, not human food. Smile.
Yeah Dawn I agree with you 100%
My son used to have a Sharpé who was the meanest dog I ever met.
I used to feed him oreos not knowing they were harmful to dogs. My son says I knew but didn't care.
Unfortunately, the cookies just seemed to make the dog meaner, if that was possible.
Bob
Just as a side note, grapes and raisins are also poisonous to cats.
knew about the grapes and rasins being poisonous to dogs, but didn't know about the cats, (not that I'd ever own one)
I own a cat, so that's good to know, not that I'd ever feed her rasiens or grapes. Hell I don't even eat them.