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Post by RealPitBull on Feb 4, 2008 8:19:04 GMT -5
RAISENSIf you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on. If you don't have a dog, please pass along to friends who do. 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 maintainance and wat ch 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 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 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... www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp <http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp> (+ a reply from a holistic healer friend of mine): Hi thanks for sending. I had already gotten this, and many more like this before. I know many dogs that have died as the result of raisins yet no Vets are warning owners. I have asked countless owners if their Vets had told them about rasins and 100% have said NO! I am so angry that Vets are not telling clients about the fact that raisins can kill dog!! How irresponsible. Or that Macadamia nuts can cause a dog to become paralyzed as had happened to a dog Charity the other day. I have to give handouts to people about these poisons when that is really the Vets job. How hard can it be to type out a page of toxins that can kill a dog. I hope one day they will.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 18, 2008 15:04:25 GMT -5
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Post by valliesong on Jun 18, 2008 19:32:32 GMT -5
Be extra cautious, as some dental products and treats made for dogs contain this!
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 19, 2008 8:48:23 GMT -5
Be extra cautious, as some dental products and treats made for dogs contain this! Brilliant!
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 13, 2008 12:50:25 GMT -5
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Post by RealPitBull on Nov 21, 2008 9:43:21 GMT -5
Palms/palm trees are apparently extremely deadly to dogs.
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 5, 2008 11:52:00 GMT -5
Sago palms are toxic, though I have a huge one in my yard, none of my dogs have ever messed with it. Sagos are pretty common/popular down here in the south.
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Post by RealPitBull on Dec 5, 2008 16:11:30 GMT -5
Someone recently mentioned on one of my email lists about several of her dogs dying due to somehow coming in contact with the sap (?) from a palm tree in her yard. She said it was pretty much instantaneous, they didn't have time to treat or anything. I hadn't heard about palm trees before and wasn't sure how accurate the info was (this wasn't a dog list), but I wanted to share it here in case someone had some input.
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 5, 2008 16:25:07 GMT -5
I don't know about that, will put on my to research list. I'm not entirely sold of the grape thing, though. I've heard from reputable sources that they are and they aren't. Mine have had grapes, a few here and there though only very occassionally and usually only if one of the kiddos drops one. Carpet sharks. These are definite no-no's for sure: dark green veggies onions apple peel/seeds/core citrus careful with salmon (mercury levels) and some other fishes corn/cobs...not just in the home but for those like me who put them out on feeders for the squirrels. Cajun ate one once and we're lucky we didn't end up like Mary's Luca, having surgery. The one Cajun got fell off of a feeder.
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Post by RealPitBull on Dec 5, 2008 16:30:54 GMT -5
I wondered about grapes, too, I know for instance Juliet de Baraclay Levy (I am sure I butchered the spelling of her name), recommended grapes in her books before I guess the research came out (the books are fairly old, afterall). I had always tossed my dogs a grape or too here and there, as well.
Apple PEEL, too? Eeesh. Thanks. Seems like there is a never ending supply of things to watch out for.
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angels8
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Pitbull Snuggler
Posts: 252
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Post by angels8 on Dec 5, 2008 16:42:52 GMT -5
What are the details and reaction to the following
dark green veggies - What kinds onions - how much and why not - Kaeda eats them when ever they fall off the cutting board apple peel/seeds/core citrus
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 6, 2008 0:02:06 GMT -5
www.risingwoods.org/OURFAMILY/THEDOGS/knowntoxicfoodsfordogs.htmI disagree with the raw bones...kibble causes obstructions, bloat and torsion and dogs have suffocated/choked when scarfing kibble or eating normally. My own vet says he sees it alot, much, much more than bones creating an obstruction or lacerations. I've used cat food during resource guarding tests (small can, in moderation there's no worries and most dogs are highly motivated by the stuff) Grapes and raisins, as I said, I'm on the fence about and personally am not worried. Moderation and common sense comes into play here. I have only heard of ONE case of a fatal reaction which was the story posted at the start of this thread and the dog ate half a canister of raisins. Marijuana...darn, guess I'll have to break the news to Cajun. Dairy products...again, you have to know your dog and be smart about how you feed them. Yogurt has benefits, you just don't shovel a quart into them at a time. Cottage cheese, various cheeses, eggs...all good stuff. Moldy or spoiled food/garbage...don't think I even need to comment about this one. Onions are a big no-no...but your dog eating a couple/few pieces off the floor won't harm him. Raw fish...you'd have to feed pretty regular and substantial portions to create a vitamin deficiency low enough to really effect overall health. I only feed fish once a week or every other week. Table scraps...I can't understand how they can make the statement that they aren't nutritionally balanced, as if they know what's on my plate. ? Tobacco...darn it! Caj has to lay off the bong and now Jazz has to quit smoking. This will be a fun household while they go through DT's. Yeast dough...big no-no and I suggest keeping loaves of bread out of reach, as well. Poinsettias are no longer considered highly toxic but with all plants, I would keep them out of reach anyway. CASTOR BEAN...Can be fatal and it's important to know what they look like. If your dog is a grazer like mine are, they may ingest many beans or plant parts before you realize it. www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/3/229General info and picture links: www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4320Another list of toxins or potential toxins: www.sonomavalleydog.com/toxins.html?bpid=205www.sonomavalleydog.com/toxins.html?bpid=206Avocado meat/pulp is not toxic, the peel, stem, bark, pit and leaves can be. There is actually a dog food called Avoderm and you guessed it, avocado is an ingredient. I've fed it and my dogs are still alive. Personally I have a sago palm (huge one), azaleas, a Yoshino cherry tree and a baby (4 feet) avocado tree I grew from a pit as an experiment that I managed so far not to kill. All of these are inside our fenced yard and I see no issue with them. Now if my dogs were intent and successful at gnawing on them or whatnot, I would probably do something about it. So far, so good.
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 6, 2008 0:10:45 GMT -5
Sorry angels8... citrus was explained in the first link I posted in the previous post. Dark veggies (turnips, spinach, etc) contain a higher amount of iron which can damage the stomach lining and adversly affect other vital organs. It's hard enough to get my kids to eat them, doubt my dogs would care for them anyway. Apple cores would be considered a choking/obstruction hazard. The seeds (and all fruit pits/seeds) are toxic as they all contain cyanide. Here's a more comprehensive list and explanations: www.lacetoleather.com/fataltodogs.htmlI did personally know of a dog which died from pancreatitis by being allowed to eat pork, bacon fats/grease and fatty, cooked meats regularly.
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angels8
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Pitbull Snuggler
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Post by angels8 on Dec 9, 2008 1:02:51 GMT -5
Thank you! Kaeda is a veggie lover, if i drop it the crumb snatcher can get it before i notice it fell. I am not a fan of turnips or spinach but she will eat the heck out of some lettuce, Garlic, carrots, onion slivers that fall and what not, She has yet to turn her nose up at anything, Tonight she snagged an uncooked penne pasta before it hit the floor.... Amazing i tell you.
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 9, 2008 1:06:50 GMT -5
Our previous pitty was a veggie hound, too. She loved tomatoes, cooked squash, lettuce even cooked celery.
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Post by emilys on Dec 9, 2008 10:30:41 GMT -5
"Apple cores would be considered a choking/obstruction hazard. The seeds (and all fruit pits/seeds) are toxic as they all contain cyanide."
I'm not buying this at all (except for the choking hazard). I've never heard that apples themselves are poisonous, and the cyanide content of the seeds must be trivial or people (and pets) would be dying by the millions.
As for a lot of these alleged dangers, I've always read that dogs still have the digestive makeup of their wolf ancestors, who safely eat all kinds of crap, including, I'm sure, moldly rancid meat. Of course we need to be careful about what we feed, or allow our dogs to eat. But some of the things on these various lists make no sense to me.
Until I read biologically sound explanations (onions cause anemia; chocolate contains a toxin), I'm going to remain skeptical. There are very few sources on that link Jessica posted. Most of the warnings are in the same category as warnings about people food: TOO MUCH of certain things is bad (like too much salt). That doesn't mean that we have to freak out if our dog eats a bunch of potato chips. Or an Oreo for that matter (which has chocolate FLAVOR, not actual chocolate and is not toxic)
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 9, 2008 15:11:44 GMT -5
I tried to add in there quite a few times that moderation is the key. The crap we fed our dogs we had when I was a young child would make people today have a coronary but the fact is, tons of dogs still live on really dangerous diets and survive, if not thrive. Course they usually end up getting killed by a car or some other accident well before their prime, as living on scraps primarily usually goes hand in hand with being a yard dog. I think that these lists are useful for people because alot of people don't see the dangers in "proofing" their homes and yards. More dogs go in with obstructions from common household items (pantyhose, coins, socks, etc) than I'd assume die from ingesting enough onions to cause an issue. But I think it's still of merit to make owners aware of common toxins, regardless of the levels. Toothpaste tubes have warnings about ingesting too much with direction to call poison control...as a new, naive mother, my 2 year old ate half a tube of Crest and I freaked out, called poison control and they laughed at me, saying it would take a whole lot to adversly affect him. That same son (who amazingly has lived to nearly 11 years now) also ate dirt, bugs and a quarter tub of butter in one sitting once. My intentions for posting these links are not to be a fanatic and have everyone freak out if their dog ate an apple seed. But I do feel they have some value and dog owners should be aware. This was simply information, widely available. Everyone can take it and regard it, tuck it away or do as they wish with this information. I certainly don't believe everything I read or hear and my intention wasn't to make people lock up their onions and M&Ms. As I mentioned, I have several of the listed toxic plants in my yard and none of my dogs have ever had an issue with them which is an indication that I'm realistic when it comes to the items listed in the links. But at the same time, I also don't shovel 2 lbs of bakers chocolate into my dogs...but a bit of my chocolate bar or chocolate ice cream is a treat that isn't going to kill them.
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Post by emilys on Dec 9, 2008 18:43:26 GMT -5
good post Jessica! I agree 100%
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Post by purplepaws121 on Dec 22, 2008 13:21:29 GMT -5
what about sweet or regular green peas?
and one of those sites above says potato peels are dangerous...anyone know anything about that one?
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 23, 2008 12:11:44 GMT -5
My dogs eat peas and I'm sure they've ingested a potato peel in some way before. Apparently, veggie and fruit peels are common on these lists and they only thing I can think of without wasting time researching is that it would be some biological protection substance which makes them "toxic". You know, a potatoes way of naturally "defending" itself...ninja potato. Sort of the same reasons an onion emits the fumes which make us cry when we chop them up.
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