Grapes and raisins trigger health problems in dogs
Contributed by Laurinda Morris, DVM Danville Veterinary Clinic Danville , Ohio

This week, was the first case I've had of raisin toxicity at MedVet.

My patient was a 56- pound, five- year- old neutered male lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.

He started with vomiting, diarrhea, and shaking.

I heard raisins and grapes can cause acute renal failure, but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject.

We had the owner bring the dog in immediatley. In the meantime, I contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at one and a halftimes maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48- 72 hours.

The dog's blood urea nitrogen level, BUN, was 32, the normal is less than 27, and creatinine was over five. Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream.

We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. We rechecked the renal values and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over seven with no urine production after a liter of fluids.

He started vomiting again at MedVet and his renal values continue to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on three different anti- vomiting medications and the vomiting still wasn't controlled. Eventually, his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was elevated and his blood pressure, which stayed around 150, skyrocketed to 220. He continued to vomit, and the owners elected to euthanize.

Poison control said as few as seven raisins or grapes can be toxic. Don't give dogs grapes or raisins as treats, and any exposure should give rise to immediate concern.