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 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.

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.

Confirmation from Snopes about the above...

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp