Grape, Raisin, and Currant Poisoning
in Dogs
By Renee Schmid, DVM & Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT Pet Poison HelplineWhile a favorite and healthy snack for people, grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Raisins can commonly be found in combination with other foods, potentially increasing the risk of exposure as compared with grapes and currants. The toxicity concern is the same.

What types of grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs? 
Poisoning has occurred in dogs following ingestion of seedless or seeded grape varieties, commercial or homegrown grapes, red or green grapes/raisins, organic or non-organic, and grape pressings from wineries. Foods containing grapes, raisins, and currants (such as raisin bran cereal, trail mix, granola mix, baked goods) are all potential sources of poison. Grape jellies, grape juice and wine do not appear to cause a toxicity concern.
 
What is the toxic dose?
Unfortunately, there is no well-established toxic dose for any of these fruits but there are two principles to keep in mind: 1) Dogs are more likely to become poisoned if they ingest large amounts of fruit and, 2) there appears to be ‘individual’ sensitivity in dogs. Some dogs appear to be tolerate to small doses of fruit without consequence while other dogs may develop poisoning after eating just a few grapes or raisins. At this time, there is no way to predict which dogs may be more sensitive. 

Why are raisins, grapes, and currants toxic?
Currently, it is not known why these fruits are toxic. Over the years, there has been speculation as to whether the toxicity may be due to a mycotoxin (a toxic substance produced by a fungus or mold) or a salicylate (aspirin-like) drug that may be naturally found in the grape, resulting in decreased blood flow to the kidneys. More recently, it has been considered that tartaric acid may be the cause. However, to date, no specific toxic agent has been clearly identified. Since it is currently unknown why these fruits are toxic, any exposure should be a cause for potential concern.

What should I do if my dog eats grapes or raisins?
If you suspect that your pet has eaten any of these fruits, contact your veterinarian, Pet Poison Helpline or an animal poison control service immediately. Since there are still many unknowns associated with this poisoning, it is better not to take any risks when it comes to your dog's health. As with any toxin, the sooner the poisoning is diagnosed and treated, the less dangerous it will be for your pet, and the less expensive therapy will be for you.

What are the symptoms of grape or raisin toxicity?
The most common early symptom of grape or raisin toxicity is vomiting. which is generally seen within 24 hours hours following ingestion. Lack of appetite, lethargy, and possibly diarrhea can be also seen within the next 12-24 hours. More severe signs are not seen for 24-48 hours after ingestion – often after acute kidney damage has already begun. Signs of acute kidney failure include nausea, lack of appetite, vomiting, uremic (ammonia odor) breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and excessive urination. As poisoning progresses, the kidneys will stop functioning and the dog may not be able to produce urine. Following this, the dog's blood pressure often increases dramatically. The dog may lapse into a coma due to a buildup of substances which the kidneys usually eliminate from the body through urine. Once the kidneys have shut down and urine output has dropped,the prognosis is poor.

How is grape/raisin poisoning diagnosed?
Unfortunately, the symptoms of grape or raisin poisoning are non-specific and early signs are similar to a variety of things including simple dietary indiscretion (eating foods that should not be eaten).  More severe signs are similar to kidney failure from other causes. Your veterinarian will base a diagnosis of this poisoning on a history of eating grapes, raisins, currants, or the presence of pieces of grapes or raisins in the dog's vomit. Your veterinarian may also recommend diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), a serum biochemistry profile, and a urinalysis to assess the amount of damage to the kidneys. The test results will help determine the dog's likelihood of recovery.

How is this poisoning treated?
The goal of treatment is to block absorption of the toxins and prevent or minimize damage to the kidneys. The best treatment is to decontaminate the dog right away by inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal. This helps to prevent absorption of the toxin from the stomach or intestines. As grapes and raisins stay in the stomach for a prolonged period of time, inducing vomiting is very important (even up to 4-6 hours after ingestion). Following decontamination, more treatment might be necessary including aggressive intravenous fluids to help support/protect the kidneys in hopes of minimizing damage to them. Drugs used to control nausea or vomiting, to help maintain blood flow to the kidneys, and to control blood pressure may also be administered.
"The goal of treatment is to block absorption of the toxins and prevent or minimize damage to the kidneys."
Ideally, dogs should be hospitalized on intravenous fluids for 48 hours following ingestion. Affected animals may need to be hospitalized for several days. During treatment, your veterinarian will monitor the dog's kidney function levels daily to assess the response to treatment and determine whether the treatment needs to become 
​more aggressive. Blood work may also be repeated 1-2 days after going home. This is to make sure kidney function levels have not increased.

What is the prognosis following poisoning from grapes or raisins?
Prognosis depends on many factors, including how significant the ingestion is, how soon the patient was decontaminated, whether or not the patient has already developed kidney failure, how soon treatment was initiated, and whether the clinical signs and kidney function levels have improved since treatment began. If a dog only ate a few grapes or raisins (depending on the size of the dog) and received immediate treatment, the prognosis is excellent. If the kidneys are damaged and no urine is produced, the prognosis is poor, and death is likely. The kidneys have very little ability to regenerate or repair themselves. Once they are damaged, they will not function as well as they did before the episode. When in doubt, seek treatment right away by contacting your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for advice. Your veterinarian will estimate the prognosis for your dog based on symptoms, individual situation, and response to treatment.

How can I prevent this problem?
Keep all grapes, raisins, currants, or foods containing these fruits, out of reach of your pets. Do not share any food that may contain grapes or raisins with your dog, and especially do not use grapes as treats for your dog. While one grape may not cause a problem for most dogs, it is a good idea to avoid this habit and risk a potential poisoning.

What other common foods are toxic to dogs?
Onions, garlic, alcohol, chocolate, cocoa, macadamia nuts, fattening foods, and foods containing the sugar alcohol sweetener xylitol, can also be fatal.

Are other animals at risk?
Grape and raisin poisoning has only been identified as a problem in dogs. Since there are still many unknowns associated with this poisoning, it would be a good idea to avoid giving any grapes and raisins to your dog or any other pet.

Pet Poison Helpline, an animal poison control center based out of Minneapolis, MN is available 24/7 for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff provides treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $65 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com

10 TIPS FOR A SAFE LABOR DAY BARBECUE WITH YOUR PETS

1. Lighter fluid is toxic to pets.
​
2. Trimmings and fatty food can cause pancreatitis (inflammation or irritation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis causes vomiting and severe belly pain.

3. Bones can be dangerous! Despite what many people think, bones are potential foreign bodies. I’ve removed many bones stuck in the stomach, the intestine or worse, in the esophagus (the tube between the mouth and the stomach, usually in the part inside the chest…)

4. A corn cob fed to a dog, while it seems to amuse some humans, can get stuck in the small intestine. This is a classic and serious (and potentially deadly) condition. It has a specific pattern on X-rays, but it may be barely visible and therefore very difficult to diagnose.
In addition, it usually stays in the GI for days before a diagnosis is made, which may mean that part of the intestine will need to be removed during surgery.

5. Fruit salads. Although healthy and refreshing for humans, fruit salads can contain hidden dangers for pets. Grapes (and raisins BTW) are toxic to pets’ kidneys.

6. Secure all trash cans. Even the best-behaved pet may have a hard time resisting the sweet smell of leftovers in a trash bag or a trash can.

7. Guacamole. Many of us love a good guacamole dip. Unfortunately, it contains 3 toxic ingredients for dogs: garlic, onion and avocado!

8. Hot barbecues, oil and food can cause serious burns to curious pets.

9. Sugar-free food. You or your guests may have used a preparation with an artificial sweetener called xylitol. This is extremely toxic to pets, who can have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or even liver failure because of it.

10. Chocolate. This is another classic: chocolate is toxic to pets. The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for pets.

Bonus 11. Having guests over means that somebody at some point may forget to shut the door or the gate, which may be an opportunity for your pet to run away, get lost, and possibly get hit by a car. It may be safer to lock your pets away to avoid a disaster that may spoil the day – at best.
Keep in mind that the advice above also applies to kids and guests. They may have good intentions, but that can lead to serious trouble!

Hope Animal Medical Center is aware of the article released by USA Today regarding the popular flea and tick collar Seresto.
Reading this article should make you extremely concerned, as we know you care about your pet and your pet’s health. All medications, human or animal, work differently for every patient. As your trusted veterinary provider, our responsibility is to be aware of all information regarding the medications we are suggesting for our clients to use with their pets. We research to stay on top of the most up-to-date information. We also track the medications we dispense and how our patients are responding to the medications. If we observe a medication is not performing or has any adverse reaction, we report it to FDA/EPA and the company and contact you as soon as possible. We also research in our field to stay abreast of any reactions to medications and foods often used in our patients. In this instance of the reporting of negative Seresto collar reactions, we have seen less than 0.5% of our patients with an adverse reaction, and all were in the form of skin irritation or rashes where the collar was placed. As of this date, we have not experienced any further complications and are hyper-vigilant to any reactions because of this publicity.
As with any product, it is imperative that you are purchasing it from a reputable place. Fake versions of animal drugs have been proven to cause significant adverse reactions. It is important to know the origin of the product and if it can be traced back to the manufacturer. At Hope, we purchase our Seresto collars directly from the manufacturer. We know the products we order have been shipped directly to us in a timely manner and have not been sitting in a hot trailer or shipping container. We can track the serial number we receive and confirm that it has been produced by the actual manufacturer, and verify it is not a counterfeit product.
Hope AMC is diligent in providing you with products that are safe for your pets. This is part of the reason we may not be able to compete with the prices that you find online but can provide you with the peace of mind of knowing the product is authentic and has been delivered, temperature-controlled, and directly to our hospital.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us at 706-546-7879

The USA Today article can be found at:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2021/03/02/seresto-dog-cat-collars-found-harm-pets-humans-epa-records-show/4574753001/

Canine Coronavirus Disease in Dogs
By Rania Gollakner, BS, DVM, MPH; Ernest Ward, DVM
 
What is canine coronavirus disease?
Canine coronavirus disease, known as CCoV, is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. Canine coronavirus is usually short-lived but may cause considerable abdominal discomfort for a few days in infected dogs. The virus is from the Coronaviridae family. The virus gets its name from the fact that when viewed from above under an electron microscope, the virus has a ring of projections that appear like a coronet, or a small crown made of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. There are many types of coronavirus, each affecting different animal species, including humans.
"Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2 that causes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."
Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2 that causes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). CCoV does not affect people. CCoV causes gastrointestinal problems in dogs, as opposed to respiratory disease.
See the handout “SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)” for information on the disease caused by SARS-CO-V-2.

How is canine coronavirus transmitted?
Most cases of canine coronavirus are contracted by oral contact with infected fecal matter. A dog may also become infected by eating from contaminated food bowls or by direct contact with an infected dog.
"Crowding and unsanitary conditions favor transmission."
Crowding and unsanitary conditions lead to coronavirus transmission. The incubation period from ingestion to clinical signs is one to four days. The duration of illness is two to ten days in most dogs. Secondary infections by bacteria, parasites, and other viruses may develop and prolong illness and recovery. Dogs may be carriers of the disease for up to six months (180 days) after infection.
  
What are the signs of canine coronavirus?
Most canine coronavirus infections are sub-clinical and produce few clinical signs in dogs. Occasionally an infection may cause more severe symptoms, particularly in young puppies. The most typical sign associated with canine coronavirus is diarrhea, typically sudden in onset, which may be accompanied by lethargy and decreased appetite. The stool is loose, with a fetid odor and orange tint. It may contain blood or mucus. If a puppy has a mixed infection, for instance both coronavirus and parvovirus (see handout "Parvovirus in Dogs"), the illness will be more severe.

Are there diseases that can be confused with canine coronavirus?
There are many causes of diarrhea in dogs. Severe cases of coronavirus can be easily confused with parvovirus, and they may occur at the same time. Be sure to see your veterinarian if your dog has diarrhea that does not resolve within twenty- four hours or is associated with significant lethargy or loss of appetite.

Is there any treatment?
There is no specific treatment for canine coronavirus.
"Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, but may be useful in controlling secondary bacterial infections."
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, but may be useful in controlling secondary bacterial infections. Withholding food for twenty-four hours after diarrhea ceases and gradually reintroducing small amounts of food may be the only required treatment. A dehydrated patient may require intravenous fluids to correct the fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Early medical intervention is the key to successful treatment of severe cases.

What about vaccines?
Canine coronavirus vaccines are available. This vaccine is not recommended for all dogs and will be administered based on your dog's lifestyle and risk assessment. This vaccine will only work for the CCoV type of coronavirus. It is not effective for the prevention of COVID-19.

​As a valued member of the Hope Animal Medical Center family, we appreciate the trust you place in us to provide your pets with Exceptional Care. Recently, there has been much attention worldwide focusing on the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), and we wanted to update you on the steps we are taking to protect the valued members of the Hope AMC family, both clients, and employees. 
 
Hope Animal Medical Center will continue our regular operating hours until further notice. If an effort to help those that are in self-imposed quarantine, we have come up with some alternatives when it comes to your pet’s healthcare. If you require our services during the time of quarantine, please contact us so that we can discuss the best option for you, your pet, and the clinic. We understand that your pet’s health is extremely important to you and us as well.
 
We are monitoring the evolving situation and want to highlight a few of the precautionary measures we are reinforcing and implementing:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing: We are reinforcing with Team Members careful handwashing before, continuously throughout, and after their shifts.
• Team Member health: All Team Members experiencing any flu-like symptoms must stay home and take advantage of our paid sick leave policy. Managers are required to send home any Team Members showing signs of flu-like symptoms and report any such incidences. 
• Sanitation and cleanliness: We have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting our clinic with special attention to high-contact surfaces, such as chairs, tables, equipment, and computers, to ensure our clinic remains open to serve you with the highest standard of care.

 
As we do our part to keep our clinic clean and safe, we encourage you to take notice of measures from the CDC for preventing the spread of viruses. We know – some of these seem obvious, and some prove to be harder than you think (turns out we touch our faces a lot – who knew?), but following them goes a long way toward staying healthy and keeping our communities safe:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

 

In the meantime, stay safe and healthy and enjoy this extra time with your pets! 
 
 
The Doctors and Staff of
Hope Animal Medical Center

Hope Animal Medical Center strives to provide exceptional care for your exceptional pets. There has been a growing concern in the medical community regarding errors in filling prescriptions via telephone or fax machine. Verbal communication over the phone can often be misunderstood or misconstrued and the resulting effect can be an incorrect dosing of a medication or the wrong medication altogether. Prescriptions that are faxed to online distributors using their pre-set forms have been altered without our authorization by these companies, which again, results in our patients getting incorrect medication.

For this reason all prescriptions for outside pharmacies requires a written script that owners must pick up and take or send to the pharmacy of their choice. Alternatively, prescriptions for medications that we carry can easily be filled here at the hospital. For the safety and well-being of your pet, we will no longer call or fax prescriptions to outside pharmacies.

The exception to this will be prescriptions filled through Road Runner Pharmacy, our trusted compounding pharmacy in Arizona and Vet's First Choice, Hope's online pharmacy. We work closely with these pharmacy's to obtain specifically dosed medications for our patients, and they provide excellent customer service. We will handle the paperwork involved in filling these prescriptions. These prescriptions will still be shipped directly to our clients; however, the prescriptions from Road Runner Pharmacy will now be billed through our hospital to protect the privacy of our clients’ billing information.

Please allow 24 hours for prescription requests to be processed. 

We hope you understand why this action is necessary. Please feel free to call us at 706-546-7879 if you have any questions or concerns.

We wanted to remind all of our clients that Hope Animal Medical Center offers Cold Laser Healing Therapy as another one of our innovative treatment options. The laser beam stimulates the cells and tissues, reduces inflammation and helps minimize pain of many chronic conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, tendonitis and more.

How Does It Work?
The cold laser light penetrates deep into the tissue and provides energy that encourages cellular respiration to promote healing. The laser beam also affects nerves directly decreasing the diffusion of pain signals to the central nervous system. The net result is increased rate of healing and decreased pain.

How long will each treatment take?
The treatment time depends on how chronic the condition is and the depth the laser light needs to reach to be effective. However, almost all treatments will be between 2 and 10 minutes.

How many treatments will my pet need?
The number of treatments can vary greatly based on the condition, but many pet owners notice a positive difference within 3 or 4 treatments.

Some Benefits of using Cold Laser Therapy include:

• Pain relief
• Reduced inflammation
• Accelerated tissue repair and cell growth
• Improved circulation by stimulation
• Increased cellular metabolic activity
• Reduced fibrous tissue formation
• Improved nerve function by eliciting regeneration
• Accelerated wound healing
• Stimulated immune system

What is the cost of the treatments?
The cost of Cold Laser Therapy is very affordable and it will depend on the number of treatments needed. Individual treatments are $50.00 or we have a package of 6 treatments for $250.00.
Please contact Hope Animal Medical Center at 706-546-7879 if you are interested in scheduling a laser consultation or have any questions regarding treatment. We look forward to helping you and your pet discover the benefits of using Cold laser therapy!