Raisins toxic to dogs.

Xania · � #1 � 11-19-2007, 01:41 AM

I have just had this e-mail, and thought our dog owners would want to know about it. We would appreciate Gerry's input, too. It seems to be snopes checked, so it's reasonable to take it seriously.

"Checked it out myownself @ Snopes. Turk:

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
maintainance 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.

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

JonB · � #2 � 11-19-2007, 03:05 AM

Thanks for the info Xania, good to know.

The only problem I have with the article is the quote, He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting.
Why on earth would you want to STOP the vomiting? Surely if the dog has ingested poison, wouldn't you want to induce vomiting. Maybe Jerry can throw some light on this. It just seems to me that the dog ate poison, was vomiting and they gave it more poison to stop the vomit. Sorry, but just wrong to me.

Xania · � #3 � 11-19-2007, 03:22 AM

Jon, I think there are times when the vomiting itself is causing more damage, by ridding the body of needed fluids. Then there is the exhaustion that constant vomiting causes. This poor dog died anyway, in spite of that vet's efforts. If it had been my dog, I would have wanted him to try to make the dog more comfortable and ease its distress. I think they were trying to give it a physical and mental rest from the exertions of continued vomiting. Gerry will know better - that 's just my idea.

bifrost99 · � #4 � 11-20-2007, 01:15 PM

I heard about chocolates being bad for dogs (though I've also seen owners who say their dogs love chocolate and suffer no harm), but raisins and grapes? Well, onions are also known to cause some renal shutdown in dogs.

It would be nice to know the mechanism of action. It's also the first time I heard of this so I can't really give anything.

However, if I were to treat such an "unknown" case, I would give lots of liver support (B-vitamins, alpha lipoic acid, choline, methionine, etc.). Vitamin E would also preserve kidney cells. I don't know if that would work, but the liver is a main detoxifying organ, with the kidneys for elimination.

I don't give anti vomiting meds to my canine patients because I know that dogs have voluntary control for vomiting. If they want to vomit, they will. And the only drug I found that would work is a tranquilizer (shuts off their voluntary ability?), or even an anesthetic. Besides, in the case presented, I would think that the vomiting was a result of the uremia from the kidney shutdown, and probably from continuous fluid administration. Those excess fluids, and wastes that should have been eliminated by the kidneys, need to find a way out, or else the animal could drown (fluids filling up the lungs).

I am surprised of the apparent emphasis placed on vomiting. It even sounds that the failure to control it was the deciding factor for euthanasia?

Well, it was an emergency case, and the veterinarians just did what they considered best, probably going "by the book." But just as in human medicine, there can be other approaches.

Just my ideas. Not necessarily better than what those veterinarians did. I'll try to find out more about grapes/raisins and dogs.

Gerry

Xania · � #5 � 11-20-2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks Gerry. I remember, many years ago, we used to use chlorpromazine or prochlorperazine for cases of intractable vomiting which interfered with hydration. Is that what you use?

bifrost99 · � #6 � 11-20-2007, 05:04 PM

Well, it's from the same family: acepromazine. This group of tranquilizers act directly on the vomiting center of the brain.

Gerry

JonB · � #7 � 11-21-2007, 04:19 AM

Thanks for the explanation Gerry.

kind2creatures · � #8 � 01-19-2010, 02:38 PM

I used to give my dogs raisins, grapes, small pieces of chocolate, and macademia nuts, which they really looooved! Since my female started having Grand Mal seizures last February, even though they are not food related, it's made me much more conscious than I've been in past years about treats I give both of them. Here's a good list from entirelypets:

Quote:

Toxic Foods:

Chocolate/Caffeine:

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours. Symptoms include Staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, death.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.

Onions/Garlic:

Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.

Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet�s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Symptoms include Hemolytic Anemia, labored breathing, liver damage, vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.

Mushrooms:

Mushroom toxicity does occur in dogs and it can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms include Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death

Grapes/Raisins:

As few as a handful of raisins or grapes can make a dog ill; however, of the 10 cases reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), each dog ingested between 9 ounces and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.

Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts are another concern, along with most other kinds of nuts. Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

NOTE: Pets owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can�t get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.

Baby Food:

Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.

Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources:

Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

Cat Food:

Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats.

Fat Trimmings:

Can cause pancreatitis.

Milk and other dairy products:

Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.

Raw Eggs:

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw Fish:

Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

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