Cross posted from another forum...
If you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on. If you don't have a
dog, please read and pass along to friends who do.
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 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
I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintainance 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.
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
If you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on. If you don't have a
dog, please read and pass along to friends who do.
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 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
I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintainance 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.
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
