Raisins are a fun snack found in trail mixes and cookies, and you may enjoy them in a variety of recipes. If you didn’t already know, raisins were grapes before being dehydrated.
While they are great for humans, they are toxic to dogs. Giving your dog any food with a high sugar count is terrible, but that’s not why raisins are bad for dogs.
In this article, you’ll learn about why dogs can’t eat these treats and how deadly they can be. Keep reading to know what to do if your dog gets into some and the importance of keeping these out of your dog’s reach.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Raisins?
It has proven to be challenging to determine grape toxicity. Some dogs experienced only minor symptoms after eating grapes, whereas others developed acute renal failure. The fact that tartaric acid is to blame helps explain a lot.
Depending on the variety of grape, where it was produced, and its state of ripeness, grapes and raisins have varying amounts of tartaric acid in them. Different canines respond differently to grape poisoning.
For some dogs, eating a single grape might be fatal, while for others, eating a dozen has no adverse effects.
Grape Toxicity Symptoms in Dogs
Vomiting is the earliest sign of grape or raisin intoxication. It is often noticed within 24 hours of ingesting. Within the following 12 to 24 hours, it’s possible that they will experience a lack of appetite, sleepiness, and even diarrhea. More severe symptoms don’t appear for 24 to 48 hours after ingesting the substance, frequently after acute kidney damage has already started.
The kidneys will eventually stop working as the poisoning worsens, which may prevent the dog from producing urine. The dog’s blood pressure then may rise sharply after that. A buildup of toxins that the kidneys typically remove from the body through urine could cause the dog to fall into a coma.
The prognosis is terrible if the kidneys have failed and urine production has decreased. Signs of acute kidney failure include:
- Nausea
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Uremic (ammonia odor) breath
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
How is it Diagnosed?
Blood tests, indications, and history of consuming grapes are used to diagnose grape toxicity. Especially when this is coupled with tiredness, general weakness, and lack of appetite, pieces of undigested raisins in the vomit or feces may be the strongest indicator if you weren’t present when the occurrence occurred.
If unsure, a history of your dog’s activity may be helpful. If you suspect your dog has consumed baked goods, check the ingredient list for raisin or grape-based sweeteners and take a sample to the doctor for testing.
A blood test for kidney failure will reveal it in its later stages if blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and calcium levels rise. If the poisoning incident goes unnoticed, the veterinarian must rule out other toxicities that could result in kidney failure.
How is it Treated?
The purpose of treatment is to stop the poisons from being absorbed and stop or lessen kidney damage. Decontaminating the dog as soon as possible is the best action since it stops the absorption of the toxin from the stomach. Inducing vomiting is essential because grapes and raisins remain in the stomach for a long time.
To prevent additional absorption of the poisons, your veterinarian may also give your dog activated charcoal to take orally. Medications for blood pressure control, nausea or vomiting control, and blood flow to the kidneys will be given as necessary. Ideally, dogs with severe kidney illness should be brought to the hospital and given fluids intravenously for 24 to 48 hours.
Dogs with the condition may need to stay in the hospital for up to a week. Your veterinarian will regularly check the dog’s kidney parameters throughout therapy to gauge the regimen’s effectiveness and decide whether it needs to be intensified. The second round of blood tests should be done two to three days after returning home to check the kidney’s blood values.
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What Now?
When dogs eat grapes or raisins, almost 50% get kidney failure. The prognosis is decent if a dog just had a few grapes or raisins (depending on the dog’s size) and received prompt treatment. The prognosis is bad if the kidneys stop functioning and no urine is generated.
The ability of the kidneys to regenerate or repair themselves is quite limited, and once damaged, the kidneys will not perform as well as they did prior to the incident. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry and get help immediately by calling the Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian for guidance on how to proceed with treatment.
Your dog’s prognosis will be determined by your veterinarian based on your dog’s symptoms, unique circumstances, and response to treatment. The severity of the poisoning depends on many factors:
- How quickly the dog was decontaminated
- Whether or not the dog has already developed kidney failure
- How quickly treatment was started
- Whether or not the clinical signs and kidney values improved once treatment was started are just a few variables that affect the prognosis
Why Kidney Failure is so Fatal in Dogs
Acute renal failure is still a dangerous and frequently fatal condition despite all medical advancements in its care. It results in a dog’s inability to respond to supportive care. Over 60% of canines and felines with this condition either pass away or are mercifully put to sleep.
Dialysis is often only used because dogs have had a failure with their medical therapy, and the likelihood of death without dialysis is almost 100%. Depending on those dogs’ underlying cause of renal failure, 50% may recover with dialysis. Even in dogs who recover from acute renal failure, the recovery may not be complete, leaving the dog with chronic kidney disease, which will require follow-up care for life.
Conclusion
Keeping raisins away from dogs is essential to prevent life-threatening poisoning. Raisins should be also kept up high, and if you need to discard them, take them straight to the trash can where they can’t get into them.
Avoiding grape poisoning is the only option to ensure your pet’s health is never on the line. If your dog does get into a pack of these toxic treats, you must act urgently. The sooner your dog can get help, the better the outcome. Call poison control to see what you should do with your dog. They may say to induce vomiting or to head to a vet imminently. Keep your pup safe and share this post with others so they can do the same.
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The post The Number 1 Reason You Should Not Feed Your Dog Raisins appeared first on AZ Animals.
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