LOWDOWN Summer 2008 page 20
HOUND HEALTH ALERT
Unsuitable Eating
Most of us are already aware of the potential dangers of our dogs eating
chocolate and we take measures to avoid this happening. Recent reports
coming out of the States adds grapes and raisins to the ever growing list
of harmful foods.
Luarinda Morris, a vet at Danville Veterinary Clinic, Danville, Ohio, was presented
with a sick Labrador cross which had eaten half a canister of raisins some
hours earlier. The 5 year old dog was shaking, vomiting and had diarrhoea.
Tests showed that acute renal failure was occurring and the animal was put
on fluids. Over the next several hours he continued to vomit despite being
given three different anti-vomiting medications. Kidney failure continued
and the dog’s owners made the decision to have him euthanazed.
Apparently, there have been other similar cases reported. Toxicologists
warn that as few as seven raisins could prove dangerous and that any
exposure to this fruit should give rise to immediate concern. Even though
one can be sceptical about many of these food ‘scares’, I guess the wisest
course is to be very careful as to what foods our hounds are eating. With
the prospect of Christmas ahead, I suppose that we should make sure that
plum pudding and Christmas cake do not, even accidentally, become part of
our dogs’ diet. Though this doesn’t prevent us, does it?
Also equally concerning, is news that engine anti-freeze is lethal in quite small dose to canines. Although one imagines that this liquid would hold little attraction to our dogs, accidental ingestion can occur. It seems that there have been cases of dogs walking through spillages of anti-freeze and then licking their paws clean. Again, like raisins, kidney failure ensues. Anti-freeze is normally coloured with a yellow-green dye and is fairly easy to spot. It appears that it is essential to ensure that our driveways, garages etc. are kept free from these toxic puddles.
Unsuitable Eating
Most of us are already aware of the potential dangers of our dogs eating
chocolate and we take measures to avoid this happening. Recent reports
coming out of the States adds grapes and raisins to the ever growing list
of harmful foods.
Luarinda Morris, a vet at Danville Veterinary Clinic, Danville, Ohio, was presented
with a sick Labrador cross which had eaten half a canister of raisins some
hours earlier. The 5 year old dog was shaking, vomiting and had diarrhoea.
Tests showed that acute renal failure was occurring and the animal was put
on fluids. Over the next several hours he continued to vomit despite being
given three different anti-vomiting medications. Kidney failure continued
and the dog’s owners made the decision to have him euthanazed.
Apparently, there have been other similar cases reported. Toxicologists
warn that as few as seven raisins could prove dangerous and that any
exposure to this fruit should give rise to immediate concern. Even though
one can be sceptical about many of these food ‘scares’, I guess the wisest
course is to be very careful as to what foods our hounds are eating. With
the prospect of Christmas ahead, I suppose that we should make sure that
plum pudding and Christmas cake do not, even accidentally, become part of
our dogs’ diet. Though this doesn’t prevent us, does it?
Also equally concerning, is news that engine anti-freeze is lethal in quite small dose to canines. Although one imagines that this liquid would hold little attraction to our dogs, accidental ingestion can occur. It seems that there have been cases of dogs walking through spillages of anti-freeze and then licking their paws clean. Again, like raisins, kidney failure ensues. Anti-freeze is normally coloured with a yellow-green dye and is fairly easy to spot. It appears that it is essential to ensure that our driveways, garages etc. are kept free from these toxic puddles.