Leant something yesterday - Grapes are bad for dogs?

[eyeshade]

I never knew that, I knew chocolate was and other things but I wasn't aware grapes were and apparently they are very poisonous according to the vet.

I think it would be good for Vets to put a large sign in their waiting rooms exactly what is bad for dogs so that people like me who think they know (and obviously dont!), can be informed.

So no grapes this Christmas for doggies!

[lankeela]

Heres a list - I am sure someone else has some more details.

Foods that are dangerous to dogs:


Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Cocoa, Chocolate Cake
The poison is theobromine. Theobromine is found in the cocoa bean.
The amount of Theobromine depends on the type of chocolate - milk
chocolate contains less than dark. In domestic pets - especially
dogs - including birds chocolate may harm the heart, kidneys and
their central nervous system. The effect is very serious.
This is because dogs metabolize theobromine, a naturally occurring
substance in chocolate, very slowly.
Signs of Theobromine poisoning include; nausea and vomiting,
restlessness, diarrhoea, muscle tremors, lethargy, depression,
increased urination or incontinence and finally death.
Walnuts and Macadamia nuts


Potatoes
Green skins and Green sprouts in potatoes - these have also poisoned
humans too - although cooked, mashed potato is alright. - Due to
Solanum alkaloids that are found in the green skins and green
sprouts.
The Solanum alkaloids can be found in the green sprouts and green
potato skins, this occurs when the tubers are exposed to the
sunlight during their growing time or after they have been
harvested. Although it is rare that actual poisoning occurs please
do not take any chances with your dogs and keep them away from the
potatoes in your garden and kitchen.

Tea, coffee and cola type drinks
These drinks contain Theobromine. Please see Chocolate

Raw Liver
If you feed raw liver in large quantities every day it can cause a
vitamin A toxicity in dogs. Especially if your dog is fed a diet
already containing ample Vitamin A. The toxicity symptoms that show
are poor growth, impaired reproduction and vision problems.

Fruits <

[lankeela]

Second half:



Grapes, Raisins and Sultanas/Golden Raisins
Grapes, raisins and sultanas - extremely poisonous!! - can cause
kidney failure. The poison is, unfortunately, unknown in this case
but it is very dangerous.

Alcohol
Alcohol poisoning is usually fatal.

Onions and Garlic
Onions especially raw onions - sulphur in them cause the problem.
This can damage the red blood cells and cause anaemia. Garlic is
less toxic than onions. If you wish to give your dog garlic to
naturally repel fleas please check amounts with your vet first.

Turkey Skin
Currently it is thought that Turkey skin can cause acute pancreatis.

Raw Fish, see also Raw Salmon below
Too much raw fish. This is because some raw fish can cause a
deficiency of the vitamin thiamine (a vitamin B). The symptoms of a
thiamine deficiency include anorexia (complete loss of appetite),
abnormal posture, weakness, seizures, and can even cause death. This
includes cats as well as dogs.

Raw Salmon
Salmon eat snails that carry a fluke that contain bacteria that can
harm dogs if ingested by them. The flukes can be found in any part
of the raw salmon but mainly the head and the guts. Sadly your dog
can be harmed by just coming into contact with the salmons blood.
You can kill this bacteria by freezing, smoking or cooking the fish.
Diagnosis of this is difficult due to the fact that it mimics other
canine diseases like Parvovirus but it is easily treated with
antibiotics once diagnosed. Please be very careful if you take your
dogs anywhere where salmon might be.

[lankeela]

Now if that hasn't frightened you enough, this site has a list of poisonous plants! Many of the traditional Christmas plants are very poisonous so take great care.

http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/2/Health/poison ousplants.htm

[Roughquest]

Well Im astounded, my dog loves grapes and tomatoes and apples, carrot, and he is 13 now, not a days illness in his life! He loved raisins too and we have always fed him them as a treat, no harm done to him....he is an old man now and on his last legs so to speak, but he has had a darn good innings....

[lankeela]

Many people will say their dogs have eaten many of the things listed and have come to no harm, but how do you know which dogs will be ok? Would you want to take the risk, now that you know some can be affected, even fatally?

[muffty]

My cat information book also states that kittens/cats should not have grapes or raisins (doesn't mention sultanas though), coffee & tea is also toxic.

There are quite a number of houseplants that are poisonous to them. Now I've heard that tuna fish (canned) should only be given rarely, as a treat, because that is not good for them!

I hope banana is harmless, because my kitten insists on sharing mine at breakfast time!!

[eyeshade]

Thanks Lankeela, luckily I have never given most of the above, both veggies anyway and most deffinitely not the chocolate. It is astounding really but I still think that Vets could do more to let people know, after all we spend enough time in the waiting rooms, why not put some signs up especially at Christmas when people are bound to have food left overs.

Sadly we gave our rescue bull terrier grapes, he absolutely adored them and he died quite young and the vet didn't really know what it was, now I am giving myself mega grief over this thinking it may well have been the grapes poisoning his system but I guess I will never know. Forearmed is forwarned, lets hope the doggie people read this.

[lankeela]

I think you've summed it up, if you have the information, it is up to you whether you use it or not, but you can't say you weren't warned.

I would have thought if the Bully had died from grape poisoning there would have been obvious signs, so please don't beat yourself up over it. As he was a rescue you will probably never know what had happened to him before.

How about we all print off a notice and ask our vets to put it in their waiting room?

[eyeshade]

Good idea!! I will do that, am back at the Vet shortly anyway for ongoing entropian problem with shar-pei, you will recall, so will do it then.