Raisin Ingestion in a Border Collie
Veterinary casebook:
Raisin Ingestion in a Border Collie
Overview
Trixie is a 5 year old border collie.
Problem
Trixie had been observed eating a slice of Christmas cake, which contained dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas. Trixie’s owners knew that raisins could cause tummy upsets and kidney damage in dogs.
Treatment
Trixie’s owners brought Trixie into the surgery to receive an injection to cause vomiting. Ten minutes later Trixie vomited up the fruit cake. She was then given some activated charcoal paste to eat, which would absorb any toxins remaining in the gut. Trixie stayed in the hospital on a drip for 48 hours to keep her well-hydrated and protect her kidneys from damage until the raisins had fully left her system. Blood tests were taken to check kidney function.
Outcome
Trixie went home 2 days later and her blood tests showed that her kidneys had not been damaged.
Discussion
Some dogs can eat some raisins and have no ill effects at all. In other cases, just one raisin or grape can cause life-threatening kidney failure. It is not understood whether it is something about the dog or the particular grape/raisin that determines the outcome. For this reason, it is recommended that all dogs that have eaten grapes or raisins are given a sickness injection and supportive treatment as soon as possible.
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