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 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 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 over night 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. Confirmation from Snopes about the above...<http://www.snopes.co...er/raisins.asp>
dogs and raisins/grapes
Started by
hiker
, Oct 15 2007 05:29 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
esther231
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Member
Posted 15 October 2007 - 05:35 PM
Wow. I do have a dog (Maggie) and I've never heard of it.
Greatly appreciated.
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. ~H.G. Wells
#3
maineman
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maineman
Posted 15 October 2007 - 07:10 PM
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 over night 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.
I'd like to add some medical knowledge here... I am bothered by something in the management which I wish you would pass on to the vets.
Basic renal (kidney) function requires adequate volume of flow. When an animal is dehydrated, be it from vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, heat (fever or elevated ambient temperature) the flow through the kidney declines. As it does the BUN begins to rise, reflecting dehydration. If there is damage to the kidney cells then the creatinine will rise. A sudden drop in hydration can result in acute kidney damage known as acute tubular necrosis (ATN). The life saving treatment for ATN is FLUIDS - given as an intravenous load, and TIME. If the offending cause of the dehydrating insult is resolved, then the kidney failure will resolve. Either through time and IV fluids or, rarely, with acute, temporary dialysis as well.
What was done in this case would be considered MALPRACTICE in human medicine - that is the giving of the diuretic, lasix, in order to force urine output. Lasix, like all diuretics, further DEHYDRATES the already dehydrated kidneys. Its like squeezing blood out of a stone, so to speak. Note that you mention that after the LASIX the poor dogs BUN and CREATININE jumped to 120 and 10...
I have consulted on cases like this in human medicine and been called to testify as an expert witness, too. I am not saying the dog would have lived, but it sounds like a typical case of ATN (regardless of the cause, in the case the raisins). When acutely dehydrated, push IV fluids.... NEVER, ever, ever give a diuretic to someone/some animal that is dry.
mm
He started vomiting again over night 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.
I'd like to add some medical knowledge here... I am bothered by something in the management which I wish you would pass on to the vets.
Basic renal (kidney) function requires adequate volume of flow. When an animal is dehydrated, be it from vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, heat (fever or elevated ambient temperature) the flow through the kidney declines. As it does the BUN begins to rise, reflecting dehydration. If there is damage to the kidney cells then the creatinine will rise. A sudden drop in hydration can result in acute kidney damage known as acute tubular necrosis (ATN). The life saving treatment for ATN is FLUIDS - given as an intravenous load, and TIME. If the offending cause of the dehydrating insult is resolved, then the kidney failure will resolve. Either through time and IV fluids or, rarely, with acute, temporary dialysis as well.
What was done in this case would be considered MALPRACTICE in human medicine - that is the giving of the diuretic, lasix, in order to force urine output. Lasix, like all diuretics, further DEHYDRATES the already dehydrated kidneys. Its like squeezing blood out of a stone, so to speak. Note that you mention that after the LASIX the poor dogs BUN and CREATININE jumped to 120 and 10...
I have consulted on cases like this in human medicine and been called to testify as an expert witness, too. I am not saying the dog would have lived, but it sounds like a typical case of ATN (regardless of the cause, in the case the raisins). When acutely dehydrated, push IV fluids.... NEVER, ever, ever give a diuretic to someone/some animal that is dry.
mm
