“Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got into sticky situations…”
Thus begins a story in the latest ASPCA report on foods that may be toxic to dogs. Turns out Magoo got into the pantry and got 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 to some. The same for the grape.
Who knows?
Growing up, I thought of our family dogs as “the first cycle of the dishwasher.” They were good at waiting their turn for whatever 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 came out of her mouth when he tried to bite into them and Tiffany, always good, refused to give up until she 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 he 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 all dogs, 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 kidney failure. (The term “acute” means that the condition is serious and comes on quickly.) The dog is ultimately unable to produce urine, which means that he is unable to 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 its study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dog’s health is not affected by eating grapes. But until you know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding grapes or raisins to pets in any quantity.
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 vomited. (In a pinch, you can make your own activated charcoal by charring toast until it blackens and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.
Can’t reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
The vet will keep your dog on IV fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor 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 getting into 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 no, 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 in white chocolate). So on Valentine’s Day, you really are being nice to your best friend if you eat all the chocolates yourself!
cocoa mulch
Cocoa bean hulls are a byproduct of chocolate production (which is how mulch got 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 phosphorous content is said to cause bladder stones.
shredded
Mulch isn’t food, but there is one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch and eat it in varying amounts. Coca bean husks can contain 0.2-3% theobromine (the toxin) compared to 1-4% in unprocessed 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 too.
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 sprouts (these are found in tubers exposed to sunlight) and the green skins of potatoes. This explains why incidents rarely occur. Keep in mind that cooked mashed potatoes are fine for the health of dogs, they are actually quite nutritious and digestible.
Artificial sweeteners
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugar-free gum and candy. 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 at the Poison Control Center, “These signs can develop quite rapidly, sometimes less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product,” says Dr. Dunayer, “…therefore, it is important for pet owners to 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 drinks
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’s currently known about foods and their effects on dog health. Mulch from grapes and cocoa, for example, was recently found to have deleterious effects.
Check back frequently with sources like the ASPCA, or subscribe to “Cold Noses News” and we’ll keep you posted. (You’ll also get a ton of cool dog stuff along with your free signup.)
Of course, being vigilant and taking your pet to the vet right away will help ensure a happy outcome if something unfortunate happens.
Here’s to the health and good nutrition of your dogs!
