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 l! ess 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 elevated and his blood
pressur e, 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
Natalie
