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 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
>>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.
>> >
>> > Laurinda Morris, DVM
>> > Danville Veterinary Clinic
>> > Danville , Ohio
>> >
>> > Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do. This is
>>worth
>> > passing on to them.
>> >
>> > YOU can check the accuracy of this information at:
>> >
>> > http:www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp