My sister-in-law received this from a friend and suggested I pass it along. I've heard that grapes are dangerous for our dogs but another form, raisins, is also bad, and it doesn't take many either! Please read the entire article to get all the ifo.:


"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 th e 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 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 ho urs.

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 produ ction 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 phosp horus 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 t heir 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

Yes grapes and raisens are bad. My cat however loved grapes. But not to eat! When we had grapes in the fridge she would jump in as soon as the door opened and bite a grape off the bunch. Then she would bat it around the floor for hours. Eventually it would go under the fridge or stove and she would wait for the fridge door to open again. I tried keeping the grapes in the produce drawer instead of in a bowl and she would jump in the fridge and stay in there until we gave her a grape. Funny, silly kitty.

Gerty was no dummie, She knew that You were supposed to bat em not eat em, that's why She lived to be 20 years old !!!

Gary

that is sooo sad