posted on June 15, 2007 01:43:32 PM new
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 incr ease 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 2 20.. 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.
posted on June 15, 2007 02:42:25 PM new
To add to this post, here are ten things that you should never feed your cat or dog. This useful article, written by Dr. Karen Halligan is essential reading for all cat and dog owners. She writes:
"Having worked in emergency for numerous years, I have seen pets given all kinds of foods and drinks. An easy rule of thumb, if it isn't particularly healthy for you, it most likely is not good for your cat or dog. Some pets will eat almost anything, so pet owners need to be careful or they could end up in the local emergency room. The following are ten bad things to give your pets.
1. Make no bones about it -- bones are bad for animals! Every year countless numbers of animals end up in the emergency room from being given bones by their owners, usually as a treat.
The fact is that dogs are omnivores, not carnivores and most dogs and cats cannot tolerate bones. They can splinter or lodge in the intestinal tract with disastrous results, usually requiring surgery. They can also get stuck in their mouth or throat, which is just as dangerous. All bones are bad, including pork, chicken and beef. The next time you feel the urge to give your dog a bone, just make sure it's a milk bone or a nylabone. Your pet will love you for it.
2. Chocolate can be lethal to pets because it contains theobromine, which causes increased heart rate, central nervous system stimulation and constriction of arteries. Clinical symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and excitability to cardiac failure, seizures and death. This can occur as quickly as four to six hours after ingestion. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine.
A potential lethal dose is only one pound of chocolate in a 16-pound dog. If your pet has gotten into chocolate you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
3. Alcohol is also very bad for cats and dogs. It doesn't take much alcohol to intoxicate a pet. Animals will stagger and bump into things, hurting themselves, and it also causes them to urinate uncontrollably.
In high doses, alcohol will suppress the central nervous, respiratory and cardiac systems and can lead to death. It is best to just give your pet water.
4. Milk is also not good for animals because many of them are lactose intolerant and will develop diarrhea. Pets often lack the enzyme that is required to break down the sugar in milk and this can cause them to develop vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Even though they like it, especially cats, refrain from giving your pets milk.
5. Ham and other salty meats and foods are very dangerous to pets. In addition to being high in fat, they are also very salty which can cause serious stomach ache or pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called "bloat." This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing the pet to die. Please avoid giving ham and salty foods to your pets.
6. Onions are toxic to pets. They contain allyl propyl disulfide, which damages their red blood cells and can cause fatal consequences in animals. They may become anemic, weak and have trouble breathing. The best thing to do if your pet ingests onions is to get them to the vet right away.
7. Caffeine is also bad for pets. It contains methylated xanthine that, like chocolate, stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems and within several hours can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations and even death. So make sure your pets stay away from that early morning brew.
8. Avocados are also bad for pets. First, they are really high in fat and can cause stomach upset, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Second, the pit is also toxic and can get lodged in the intestinal tract leading to a severe blockage, which may require surgery.
9. It may come as a surprise to many that tuna fish is bad for cats. The feline heart muscle requires an amino acid called taurine to maintain normal strength and function. Regular tuna fish for humans does not have this amino acid and cats that eat too much tuna fish will develop heart problems. If you want to give your cats that taste of tuna that they love, just make sure it is tuna fish for cats which has this amino acid added.
10. The latest study has found that raisins and grapes can lead to kidney failure in pets. Small dogs can also choke on grapes so it is best to just make sure that your pets eat a well-balanced diet that is formulated for their life stage.
posted on June 15, 2007 04:54:23 PM new
My vet told me to give baby aspirin to my aged Golden Retriever when he got creaky. It improved his life tremendously.
posted on June 15, 2007 05:31:29 PM new
Thanks niel, really great post. I'm going to make a copy to hang on my fridge.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) of any drug containing acetaminophen is deadly to cats. Just one could be fatal.
Aspirin in some cases is OK, but should only be given on advice from your vet.
Edited to add:
Q: Can I give my dog aspirin?
A: My first question in response to this is; what do you want to treat? Most often, the answer is for arthritis, but I have to ask.
It is important not to just give a drug because the animal is 'not himself' or is in pain where the cause is unknown.
With regard to arthritis, yes, aspirin can be used, but with caution. Aspirin is in a class of drugs called NSAIDs - Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and dogs are particularly sensitive to the gastrointestinal effects of; pain, bleeding, and ulceration that can be a side effect of these drugs. Coated aspirin may help with the gastrointestinal effects.
Aspirin may also cause birth defects, so it should not be given to pregnant animals.1
Aspirin also interacts with several other drugs, particularly cortisones, digoxin, some antibiotics, Phenobarbital, and Furosemide(Lasix®).2
Aspirin can be given with food, 1-2 times a day. Check with your veterinarian about proper dosing for your dog, and if it is the best drug for your dog. There are safer, potentially more effective drugs out there, such as the glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. Cosequin is a common veterinary supplement that helps with arthritis and some joint problems.
Q: What about my cat and aspirin?
A: Same cautions as above, but with the added warning of time between doses. Cats cannot break down this drug as quickly as dogs (or humans), and thus, the cat can be overdosed with the accumulation of the drug in the body.
Cats are typically dosed at intervals of 48-72 hours.
Q: Can cats be given glucosamine/chondroitin, like dogs?
A: Yes. See the Cosequin site for details.
Q: What about other drugs, like Tylenol® and Advil®?
A: In a word, no. Tylenol can be fatal to cats. Neither drug (acetaminophen and ibuprofen, respectively) is routinely used for arthritis.
(These drugs may be prescribed for your dog by your vet, but only under close supervision and careful doseage.
If you suspect that your pet has gotten into a poison or overdosed, call your veterinarian or the National Animal Poison Control Center.
As with any drug, only administer under the advice and supervision of your veterinarian
