> Subject: Grapes and Raisins are Poisonous to Dogs
> Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 12:33:58 -0500
>
>
> I saw the recent email about the Swiffer Wetjet being dangerous to dogs and researched it's validity.  I found out that it was a false rumor but did come across the following article about grapes and raisins.  I worked with dogs for a long time and never knew this.  I checked several sources and this is completely true.

 Grapes, Raisins Toxic to Dogs
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 Netlore Archive:  According to this forwarded email authored by an Ohio veterinarian, grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs and can cause acute renal (kidney) failure

 Description:  Email flier
 Circulating since:  April 2004
 Status:  True
 Analysis:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_toxic_raisins.htm#note>
 See
 below


 Email example contributed by B. Oliver, 30 April
 2004:


 WARNING Dog Owners


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 who 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 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.