If you have a dog .... PLEASE read

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, OH

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 IV 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
that 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 had
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. If you do have a dog, this is worth passing
on to them.

Confirmation from Snopes about the above ....

http://www...snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp