If 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 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.

  Onions, chocolate, cocoa and macadamia nuts can be fatal, too.

  Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends who do.
  This is worth passing on to them.