“Magoo was a big, playful Labrador Retriever who often got into sticky situations…”
So begins a story in the ASPCA’s latest report on foods that can be toxic to dogs. Turns out, Magoo snuck into the pantry and was hooked like a pound of grapes. He ate it all, of course.
The ASPCA never mentions Magoo’s fate. But they do tell us that just a handful of raisins can harm a dog’s health and have been fatal for some. Same for the grape.
Who knows?
Growing up, I considered our family dogs “the first cycle of the dishwasher.” They were good at waiting their turn for what we left on our plates, and we weren’t too concerned about offering them “people food”. It never crossed our minds that the health of our dogs could be affected by a few measly remains of food. We thought that what was safe for us was safe for our pets.
What’s more, whenever I eat grapes, I like to give one or two to our German Shepherd “Tiffany”. The grapes always fell out of her mouth when he tried to bite into them, and Tiffany, always good, refused to give up until he crushed them into submission. She guaranteed at least 60 seconds of harmless fun.
Tiffany also liked to chew gum (she chewed it, wrapper and all, but she didn’t swallow it!). We had the sugar free kind, which is often sweetened with xylitol these days.
Little did I know that it could have been poisoning our family pet! (More on xylitol below.)
Why are grapes harmful?
As for grapes and raisins, no one is sure why they are harmful. It has been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not for every dog, and not every time. It is also not known whether small amounts consumed over a long period of time could have a cumulative effect.
What we do know is that the end result in almost all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute renal failure. (The term “acute” means the condition is severe and comes on quickly.) The dog ultimately cannot produce urine, which means that he cannot filter toxins from his systems, an essential process for life.
During the twelve-month period in which the effects of the grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. More than a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dog’s health is not affected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount.
an ounce of prevention
So, your dog just won a big box of grapes. What should a pet owner do?
The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were recently eaten, is to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so jump straight to the activated charcoal if he’s already thrown up. (In a pinch, you can make your own activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast until it’s black and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.
Can’t contact the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and check blood chemistry daily. A normal blood test after 3 days usually means your dog is clean.
Keeping a watchful eye, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Just like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for mischief when we’re not looking.
It’s not just the grapes…
There are other foods your dog should stay away from, and some of them may surprise you.
Here are some other foods that can endanger a dog’s health:
Chocolate
Who can resist chocolate? I like your not, your dog.
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, and cocoa beans contain a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Different types of chocolate have different effects on the health of dogs. Dark chocolate has the largest theobromine, coming in at a whopping 450mg (compared to 1mg for white chocolate). So on Valentine’s Day, you’re actually being nice to your best friend if you eat all the chocolates yourself!
cocoa mulch
Cocoa bean husks are a byproduct of chocolate production (which is how mulch found its way into the “food” category) and are popular as a landscaping mulch. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, some dogs like to eat it and it contains theobromine.
fatty foods
Fatty foods are difficult for a dog to digest and can overload the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dog’s health and is potentially fatal.
walnuts
Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact, most nuts are not good for dogs’ health, as their high phosphorus content is said to cause bladder stones.
shredded
Mulch isn’t food, but there’s a kind that’s tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch and will eat it in varying amounts. Coca bean husks can contain 0.2-3% theobromine (the toxin) compared to 1-4% in raw beans.
Onions
Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, DVM and Edward C. Fieldman, DVM book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884). Stay away from onion powder as well.
potatoes
Potato poisonings between people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in the green shoots (these are found in tubers exposed to sunlight) and in the green skins of potatoes. This explains why incidents rarely occur. Keep in mind that cooked mashed potatoes are fine for dogs’ health, they are actually quite nutritious and digestible.
Artificial sweeteners
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugar-free gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of xylitol-sweetened products can cause a sudden drop in dogs’ blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, Consultant Veterinarian in Clinical Toxicology for the Poison Control Center, “These signs can develop quite rapidly, sometimes less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product,” Dr. Dunayer states, “…therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately.”
Turkey
Turkey skin is now believed to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, in part due to its high fat content.
Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:
alcoholic beverages
Avocado (the only “fatty” member of the vegetable family)
Coffee (all forms of coffee)
Moldy or spoiled food
Salt
yeast dough
Garlic
The bottom line
Thanks to a more educated public, fewer deaths from foods like chocolate are being reported these days. But it’s important to keep up with what is currently known about food and its effects on dog health. Grape and cocoa mulch, for example, was recently discovered to have harmful effects.
Check back often with sources like the ASPCA, or subscribe to “Cold Noses News” and we’ll keep you posted. (You’ll also get a bunch of cool dog stuff along with your free registration.)
Of course, being vigilant and getting your pet to the vet right away will help ensure a happy outcome if something unfortunate happens.
Here is the health and good nutrition of your dogs!