Post by huntnma on Feb 22, 2007 8:11:56 GMT -5
Eat RAISINS
Snopes says it is TRUE
www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp
Please Pass This On To Anyone Who Has A 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 male neutered lab mix who 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 = 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
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.
I verified this on www.snopes.com. This is their reply:
The database showed that dogs who ate the grapes and raisins typically
vomited within a few hours of ingestion. Most of the time, partially
digested grapes and raisins could be seen in the vomit, fecal material, or
both. At this point, some dogs would stop eating (anorexia), and develop
diarrhea. The dogs often became quiet and lethargic, and showed signs of
abdominal pain. These clinical signs lasted for several days - sometimes
even weeks.
When medical care was sought, blood chemistry panels showed consistent
patterns. Hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels) was frequently
present, as well as elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and
phosphorous (substances that reflect kidney function). These chemistries
began to increase anywhere from 24 hours to several days after the dogs
ate the fruit. As the kidney damage
developed, the dogs would produce little urine. When they could no longer
produce urine, death occurred. In some cases, dogs who received timely
veterinary care still had to be euthanized.
Snopes says it is TRUE
www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp
Please Pass This On To Anyone Who Has A 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 male neutered lab mix who 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 = 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
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.
I verified this on www.snopes.com. This is their reply:
The database showed that dogs who ate the grapes and raisins typically
vomited within a few hours of ingestion. Most of the time, partially
digested grapes and raisins could be seen in the vomit, fecal material, or
both. At this point, some dogs would stop eating (anorexia), and develop
diarrhea. The dogs often became quiet and lethargic, and showed signs of
abdominal pain. These clinical signs lasted for several days - sometimes
even weeks.
When medical care was sought, blood chemistry panels showed consistent
patterns. Hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels) was frequently
present, as well as elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and
phosphorous (substances that reflect kidney function). These chemistries
began to increase anywhere from 24 hours to several days after the dogs
ate the fruit. As the kidney damage
developed, the dogs would produce little urine. When they could no longer
produce urine, death occurred. In some cases, dogs who received timely
veterinary care still had to be euthanized.
