Grapes dangerous for dogs
If you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on
Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio
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 that 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 1 AM on Wednesday but the
owner didn't call my emergency service until 7 AM .
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 1/2 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 th e 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 th eir dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our
ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate
concern.
Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do.
This is worth passing on to them.
Confirmation from Snopes about the above...
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp