Toxic Raisens **Crosspost**

[~Jen~]

Please take the time to read the following post. I know i USED *until about 5mins ago* to give my dogs raisins and peanut butter in their Kongs ... not anymore!! http://acmepet.petsmart.com/club/bboard/fur/messages0722/3264.html

Jen

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by ~Jen~ on January 29, 2001 at 11:04 PM</font>

[Wienergal]

OK, I am totally freaking out here...trying to remain calm... I don't feed my two raisins, but I sure do give them grapes!! They LOVE grapes--I roll them across the floor and they chase them and gobble them up. My old boy, Doggerel, always ate them too, with no ill effects.

Does anyone know anything more about this?? Is it possible that this poor dog died because he ate so MANY raisins? Eighteen ounces is 2 1/4 CUPS.

I sure would like more info on this, but until I get it, the grape hunt adventures are postponed indefinitely!

[~Jen~]

If anyone has anymore information on Raisin/Grape Poison please fill us in. My guys are gonna miss thier little doggie candy (thats what we call Raisins) for awhile until we figure out if they are safe or not. I have never had a problem but now im totally freaking out too!!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm24.gif" border=0>

Jen

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by ~Jen~ on January 29, 2001 at 11:06 PM</font>

[Meemoo]

Wow...raisins and grapes....that's a new one...peanut butter too?

[Oscar's Mom]

Meemoo - Peanut butter is ok. I think Jen just ment thats what she mixed the raisens with, right Jen?
Wow, good to know about the raisens thanks for posting.

[Tanya]

Ok. This concerned me as I give my babies raisins too. I called 4 of our local vets to get their opinions and they all said basically the same thing. Raisins are not toxic to dogs but if they eat too much, it will cause a VERY upset stomach (vomiting, severe diarrhea, and dehydration). Feeding small amounts will not hurt them, but vegetables like carrots and broccoli would be better than fruits. This is basically what all 4 said. One vet actually said he would refrain from feeding any fruits at all and only give the vegetables as treats. you guys call your vets and see if they say the same. Somestimes I worry that rural south GA may not be up to date on the current info.
Tanya

[~Jen~]

I just ment the Raisins not the peanut butter to my knowledge peanut butter is still safe.

Jen

[Krista]

I have never read that raisins or grapes are toxic anywhere, and I read a lot. This was crossposted to the acme nutrition board, and I tend to agree with others there that suspect it was the volume of raisins, and possibly a problem with that particular dog as well.

I seriously doubt that giving a few raisins or grapes in moderation is going to cause any sort of problems.

I think any smaller dog eating that much of any kind of dried fruit would likely have problems -Heck I might get sick too If I ate 18 oz of raisins. So thats my take on this.

[Tina]

I also agree, that the amount was probably too much for a small dog and we don´t know the condition of the kidneys, liver etc. before this incident. Many of my own dogs have had a few raisins now and then without any adverse effect. In fact Helga has once stolen almost one cupful of raisins and developed a very profuse diarrhea but the usual diarrhea treatment with fasting, electrolyte drinks and lactobacilli was effective and the following day she was healthy again. I have also seen a 9-year-old spaniel that ate about 2½ kilograms of dried meat, became ill, developed renal failure and died in spite of intensive treatment. In spite of that I would not claim that dried meat is TOXIC to dogs. Dose macht alles, says a German proverb. But let us not keep big amounts of raisins on the table or in places where dachsies can easily find them. I keep raisins on the uppermost shelf in the kitchen cupboard behind dried beans, oatsmeal and rice. There even my children don´t find them too easily and I can have raisins when I´m watching late TV programs with my dogs.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm1.gif" border=0>

[Owen's Mom]

Toxic raisins.. Well.. If the post is even true (look at how many times it was passed on, and it wasn't anyone's dog that the original poster knew) then you have to consider that the dead dog ate about a pound of raisins. That's a lot of potassium and the postassium was most likely the "killer"

Throwing down a few raisins in still probably quite safe IMHO

------------------
~~Amy & Owen~~
22.8 lbs of Black and Tan Standard Muscle!!
www.dachshundrescue.org

[Roxane]

Following up on most of the comments I would strongly agree that most things eatable, in massive quantities, would have a devastating effect. Although Baylea would take issue with that statement. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif
Moderation might be the operative word to remember.
Roxane and crew

[dutchman]

Like Krista said in my SPCA hotline thread there is the possibility of this being an urban legend. While I didn't find it listed at the urban legends web site http://www.urbanlegends.com I did find several interesting pieces of information. The following is an interesting statement of correct information:

People have been poisoned by the solanin in green potatoes,the prussic acid in bitter almonds, the cyanide in lima beans. [Also: caffeine, nutmeg, onions, rhubarb (leaves), spinach, carotene, cabbage, bran, kidney beans, watermelon seeds,apple seeds can all be either toxic, abortifacient, liver/kidney-damaging, or preventive of proper nutrient absorption.]
-- _Food in History_

You can also find a chart listing typical theobromine levels in different type of chocolate and on average the amount per pound of body weight that is required to kill a dog. Theobromine is the toxic substance in chocolate. See the whole article at: http://www.urbanlegends.com/animals/chocolate_and_dogs.html

Tom

[Penny's Aunt]

When I read this post, I wondered if iron poisoning was the problem, since iron tablet poisoning is one of the biggest killers of kids (via poisoning). So I just looked at the 18 oz container of raisins in my kitchen. The WHOLE CONTAINER of raisins is only 78% of the adult requirement for iron for ONE DAY. Granted, that's more than a dachsie would need, but I don't think it's necessarily at the poison level.

Then I remembered a line from a diary of a boy that crossed the plains in a wagon train in the 1850's: "We et apples for breakfast, water for lunch, & swelled all day".

Since raisins are dried fruit, I wonder if that dog died more from 18 oz (3+ cups) of swelling, fermenting fruit in his belly?

Here, Penny! Get the raisin! Get it! Now, sit up! Good Girl!