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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 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 that 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.
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