Dog of cast-iron stomach

[juliet]

Did you know that grapes & raisins are toxic to dogs? No, me neither, until Monday around midnight, when we discovered that the 0.5kg of raisins Sidney had stolen earlier in the day might give her renal failure.

So it was ho! for the emergency vet in Streatham (I have taken that taxi ride too many damn times, although this was Sid's first visit), where they admitted her and stuck her on a drip for 48 hrs. She was transferred to our own vet yesterday morning so I got to go and visit her in the afternoon, when she was clearly very perky, if a little stressed at being stuck in a small kennel in a strange place.

All blood tests have come back fine, she's peeing fine, she's eating & not vomiting, and she seems well in herself, so we've been cleared to take her home tonight. (This decision may have been affected slightly by the fact that while they were cleaning her kennel out today she bit through her lead and tried to go for a wander, in classic BORED NOW mode*. Thankfully, if slightly to my surprise, she hasn't tried to chew through the drip.)

Aaaaanyway. She'll be fine. But apparently raisins are (or can be**) toxic to dogs, so there we go.

I have probably been doing other things, but right now they have gone from what passes for my mind. Oh yes, dogrando & I went to Camber Sands the weekend before last, and it was lovely. Primarily featured were: reading, eating, having the odd beer, walking on the beach.

* She is apparently undertaking a tour of S London supermarkets, having bitten through her lead and followed me into both the local Co-op and the Morrisons in Streatham. She always looks terribly pleased about it as well. "I got bored! So I came to find you! And here you are!" I have now learnt better, yes, at least until we get around to getting a chain lead for her.
** No one knows quite why. The evidence to date is that some dogs have a couple of grapes & go into renal failure; others gromph pounds of the stuff and even without treatment experience only a dodgy tummy for a day or so. Obviously we didn't want to take the risk with Sid, hence the proactive kidney-supporting fluids. It's thought that it *might* be some sort of bacteria or fungus or... something, but it's all a bit of a mystery.

Comments

[forthwritten]

Poor Sidney! I'm glad she's alright, and I hope she's not too bored. I'm impressed with her tour of supermarkets and her ability to find you - it's lovely when they're so obviously pleased with themselves, but sometimes it's hard to be just as pleased back at them.

I once met a woman who was using raisins as a training aid (instead of the more usual biscuits or meat-based treats) - I can't remember why, but I think she thought they were healthier. She also wondered why her puppy had an upset stomach and diarrhoea... Luckily the puppy came off relatively lightly but it was a bit of an headdesk moment for me.

[azurelunatic]

I actually knew this! This thanks to my aunt raising guide dog puppies and now being a part-time dog trainer.

[doug]

Phew! Glad she's fine. I did not know that about dogs but do now. *files away*

[samvara]

I'm glad to hear she is OK!

[highlander_ii]

also of note - onions and other such aromatics (garlic, chives, etc) - are also poisonous to dogs... so you don't have a similar scare later b/c that's never fun!

glad the puppy's okay!

[juliet]

I knew that one, in fact -- but hadn't encountered raisins. I should probably do some more looking up *now*...

She is home & well now, happily!

[highlander_ii]

yeah - i didn't know about raisins either -- i think my vet mentioned it last time i was there...

but - \o/ for well puppy! =)

[lilithmagna.livejournal.com]

chocolates. raisins. grapes. Is there no end to the dangers?

poisonous foods for dogs

[sledger06.livejournal.com]

don't forget that chocolate, especially the dark kind is also toxic for dogs