Own a Dog: This is worth reading

[Dr. Snubnose]

If you have a dog... PLEASE read this

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.

He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking.

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 and watch the kidney values.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet.
He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications
and they still couldn't
control his vomiting. At this point I felt the dog
was in acute renal
failure.

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. 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.
<http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.a
sp_> Com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp_
(http://www.snopes.
<http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.a
sp> com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp)



Doc:D

[The Deacon]

This link to Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp) will work better. Yep, this one is true, although not exactly new. As they noted, and contrary to the old wive's tale that animals will not eat anything poisonous, there are a number of "people foods" that dogs (and in some cases cats as well) are stupid enough to eat, but will become ill and even die from.

[spyderdog]

Doc -

A lot of people don't know all the foods that can be dangerous to dogs. Good post.

Some others foods, etc. for those that might not know:

1.) Chocolate - especially dark chocolate and bakers chocolate - most people know this one.
2.) Onions
3.) Alcohol
4.) Coffee
5.) Tea
6.) Macadamia Nuts
7.) Walnuts
8.) Xylitol - artificial sweetener in some gums and candies
9.) Acetaminophen

- Spyder"dog"

[KSDbass]

Anti freeze is another one, while very obvious, it tastes very sweet and animals and small children may continue to eat it, so watch out for anti-freeze.

[zenheretic]

Anti freeze is another one, while very obvious, it tastes very sweet and animals and small children may continue to eat it, so watch out for anti-freeze.

A bummer that so many medicines are very bitter, nasty tasting things yet something that may be leaking in the driveway tastes good.