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Written by: Laurinda Morris, DVM

Danville Veterinary Clinic

Danville , Ohio

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity eve r 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 incr ease 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 e levated 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.



P.S.

MY VET SAID OTHER DANGEROUS FEED FOR DOGS: GARLIC AND ONIONS (ONIONS VERY BAD FOR DOGS) CHOCOLATE AND COCONUT.

This email I recieved is I hope helpful to some and if itsnt true please say so...........nicely.:rolleyes:

Yep

Yes. Raisins, grapes, garlic, onions and chocolate can be fatal to dogs.

However - there are a lot of variables.

For many, many years I put a small amount of garlic powder on my collie's food to keep the fleas and ticks off when we went walking in the German woods. Worked great for the purpose it was intended with no negative side affects. You will find that many dog foods and dog treats have a small amount of garlic for flavor.

Unsweetened dark chocolate - like one would use for baking is fatal in much smaller amounts then milk chocolate. And again - some dogs are more sensitive to these things than others.

I have shared grapes and raisins with several dogs in my lifetime and never had one drop dead. This is not to say that I would do it now, with the new information out there, but again - some dogs seem to be more susceptible to these kinds of things then others.

LilacDragon;766555 wrote: Yes. Raisins, grapes, garlic, onions and chocolate can be fatal to dogs.

However - there are a lot of variables.

For many, many years I put a small amount of garlic powder on my collie's food to keep the fleas and ticks off when we went walking in the German woods. Worked great for the purpose it was intended with no negative side affects. You will find that many dog foods and dog treats have a small amount of garlic for flavor.

Unsweetened dark chocolate - like one would use for baking is fatal in much smaller amounts then milk chocolate. And again - some dogs are more sensitive to these things than others.

I have shared grapes and raisins with several dogs in my lifetime and never had one drop dead. This is not to say that I would do it now, with the new information out there, but again - some dogs seem to be more susceptible to these kinds of things then others.
Thankyou so much for that info.I must admit I did hear about flees not liking Garlic.I have also heard from a friend about a dog dying through eating chocolate. I thought I would put this thread up as I thought people should know these facts and make their own minds up.Its sad that some have chosen to ignore it but as long as it has been read and people like you can give out such valuable information then its been worthwhile.....thankyou;)

i had heard that onions kill a dog's kidneys..but never heard of raisins doing it..sheesh..thanks for sharing that...

The onions can actually make your dog anemic, they change the red blood

cells.



Something else to watch out for is "cocoa bark mulch" a lot of dogs

find it attractive to eat, and a it has had it's rise as a garden addition

because of its' aroma.



Macadamia nuts are another thing that are very toxic.



I think I have a list on FG somewhere, I'll see if I can find it and bump

it for everybody.

guppy;766579 wrote: i had heard that onions kill a dog's kidneys..but never heard of raisins doing it..sheesh..thanks for sharing that...
No problem at all;)

valerie;766595 wrote: The onions can actually make your dog anemic, they change the red blood

cells.



Something else to watch out for is "cocoa bark mulch" a lot of dogs

find it attractive to eat, and a it has had it's rise as a garden addition

because of its' aroma.



Macadamia nuts are another thing that are very toxic.



I think I have a list on FG somewhere, I'll see if I can find it and bump

it for everybody.
Valerie that really is so nice of you for that and I know that many readers will find those facts very useful.

Just had to bump this up incase some people out there hasn't read this who are dog owners.

Very interesting information but I have never given any of our dogs anything except dog food and bones.

Wow I knew about chocolate and had been told also mushrooms and pork wernt good for dogs, not sure why..We have given our dog a lil bit of choccy but not garlic or onions, he breaths bad enough:wah:

Thanks Carolly for the heads up and thanks to all the others who added their bit of useful info too...Great stuff girls:-6:-6:-6

I dont have dogs anymore, but i know an owner would be devastated if something happened to their dog and they felt it was " their fault".

kayleneaussie;766661 wrote: Very interesting information but I have never given any of our dogs anything except dog food and bones.
Best way mate as long as there not chicken bones but saying that your to wise for that;)

Chezzie;766666 wrote: Wow I knew about chocolate and had been told also mushrooms and pork wernt good for dogs, not sure why..We have given our dog a lil bit of choccy but not garlic or onions, he breaths bad enough:wah:

Thanks Carolly for the heads up and thanks to all the others who added their bit of useful info too...Great stuff girls:-6:-6:-6We need to know stuff like this Chez dont we;)

Lost a whole post darnit I hate it when that happens.



Only link I could find the site wouldn't open, maybe it was too old.

Here's one that's pretty good:

Poison list



AS to pork, it can be fatty and is hard on the pancreas. People do

feed it in small amounts, but avoiding it is easy and the way to go,

probably. Avocado which would seem "safe" is the same deal... fatty.



I bumped a post on acorns for you all. Walnuts are bad, too.



As to chicken bones, the only bad ones are COOKED. I'm not a BARF

feeder but there are many who do to much success.



Off to try and find one other thing to bump for you...



:-6

valerie;766959 wrote: Lost a whole post darnit I hate it when that happens.



Only link I could find the site wouldn't open, maybe it was too old.

Here's one that's pretty good:

Poison list



AS to pork, it can be fatty and is hard on the pancreas. People do

feed it in small amounts, but avoiding it is easy and the way to go,

probably. Avocado which would seem "safe" is the same deal... fatty.



I bumped a post on acorns for you all. Walnuts are bad, too.



As to chicken bones, the only bad ones are COOKED. I'm not a BARF

feeder but there are many who do to much success.



Off to try and find one other thing to bump for you...



:-6Ahhhh bless lolxxxx;)