Ginny's Sharebook 

Subject: Fw: Dog Owners Poison Alert  

 

If you do not have a dog, please share with others, who have dogs.  I have
verified this information as being truthful using the following site:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

           

Have a dog?...read this CAREFULLY and please send it on.

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seeen 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 onWednesday 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 atMedVet, 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 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
that point I felt the dog was in acute renal  failure and sent him on
toMedVet 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 can be
toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats,
including our ex-handlers. Any exposure should give rise to immediate
concern.

 

Laurinda Morris, DVM

Danville Veterinary Clinic

Danville, Ohio