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Same thing happens with Turkey meat -heidi[/align]
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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.
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 1
AM 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 the point I felt the dog was in acute
renal failure and sent him on to M edVet 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.
Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do. This is
worth passing on to them.
ATTENTION: Dog Owner's
