If you have a dog... PLEASE read

[BigGuy]

I have heard about chocolate but never rasins or grapes being a problem!


If you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on. If you don't have a dog, please 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 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.

Onions, chocolate, cocoa and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too.

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

.

[Ron61]

Jon,

That is sad but my vet told me several years ago to not feed my Poms any raisins, grapes, and some other things. I will only feed them food that I get at the vets and especially since the mess over the dog food from China.

Ron

[427 S/O]

I reciently started buying dog food (lamb&rice) from a local farm&horse supply store. The guy said it was much better than what the regular stores sell. I'm no dog food expert but old boo likes it...

[Ron61]

Perry,

The dog food that I get at my vets has lamb, duck, potato, rice, carrot. and some types of grain in it. He told me that is the best thing to feed your dogs and what you are getting is the same thing, just a different brand name. I never knew before the vet told me that dogs would eat all of that stuff but mine love it.

Ron

[BigGuy]

Ron or Perry - what kind of food (Brand name) is it?
I know that certain foods give my dogs (especially my Lab) gas so I've been using Bentiful. Seems Ok & they like it.

But I don't know a lot about pet foods.

[ralph puglisi]

I almost killed my dog with raisin toast. He was having all kinds of problems related to his liver. After 6 weeks of testing the Vet mentioned in passing not to give dogs grapes or raisins. I said "Oh my God" I give him half a piece of raisin toast every morning. I stopped and he is fine.

[CJ428CJ]

Interesting. I use to have a yellow lab. For about 5 years I lived in a home that had a grape vine growing over the kennel. She would regularly eat the grapes off the vine and she never exhibited any problems. However, there does appear to be truth to the story as you can see here: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

[Smokingcobra2]

Breader'sChoice has excellent products. No by products in it and the treats have glucosomne in them for older dogs bones.
joeg

[Joe Wicked]

I have a Siberian Husky/Alaskan Malamute mix. I have been trying to find food that he will even eat. We got him at the pound last year (he was slated to be put down that day but the vet had an emergency and did not make it). We took him home and is one of the best dogs I have ever had. I think he was fed only leftovers from his previous owners because he would not eat dry food, and only really pick at canned food. I have tried so many different things, but not much luck. He would eat Iams if you soaked it in water first to soften it, but then his bowel movements were not formed and impossible to clean up. I finally tried Blue Buffalo Wilderness blend and he eats it much better. I had never seen/heard of this stuff before last month, but the vet said that it is a good food, so I gave it a try.
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/dogs/wilderness.shtml

[Ron61]

Jon,

The treats that I get are Royal Canine and they contain all kinds of stuff. Apple, carrot, various vegetables and grain. The dry and canned dog food is IVD, which stands for Innovative Veterinary Diet and costs about $1 per 10 pound bag more than the other store brands around here. The canned food is the same name and they both contain duck and potato formula. Both of my Poms love them and they seem to be healthier and feel better than my others when I was feeding the other stuff. I would rather spend a few dollars more and save the hundreds in vet bills. You can get this type stuff in many brands at any good pet store, or as 427SO said at a feed store. My vet told me that is the same, but we don't have a feed store here as close as the vets.

Ron

[427 S/O]

Let me check with store this morning, I buy the 40lb bags and dump it in a air tight container.

[Ron61]

This is the result of well cared for and well fed pets. Why can't we get along like this?

Of course the last one shows what should have happened to the person instead of the jersey.

Ron

[427 S/O]

BigGuy, The lady said it's 'diamond' brand lamb&rice and it includes all kinds of good ingredients. She said it should be sold at most any horse supply store around the country...

[trularin]

Diamond is usually at the coop.

Use to get 1000 pounds of horse ready corn and 2 bags of vitamins. Diamond is or was a good brand. Haven't purchased any on years...no horses.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

This is the result of well cared for and well fed pets. Why can't we get along like this?

Of course the last one shows what should have happened to the person instead of the jersey.

Ron

My cats stay inside and my dog outside. Everytime my dog sees either of my cats, he gets a look on his face like oooo snack time.

[Ron61]

Joe,

I should send that to my neighbor. I think someone must have dumped about 50 cats in this block a week or so ago as they are all over and the animal control is putting out traps to try and get some of them. He is really disgusted as he said he had 8 or 10 fighting in his yard one night. Not the cats fault but they are really thick and underfed which is making it kind of tough on everyone in the area if they feed their dogs outside. They don't bother me much as my Poms eat in the house and just bark at the cats which for the most part never come over my fence.

Ron