Health Alert - Raisins and Grapes
Please read this
story written by a Veterinarian about a dog she treated and
ended up being euthanized. This information could
save the life of your dog.
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 neutered male 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....
We contacted the
ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said
to give IV fluids at 1 ½ 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 is
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. We
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 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, and 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 dog
grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any
exposure should give rise to immediate
concern.
Laurinda Morris,
DVM
Danville
Veterinary Clinic