Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Capone

Check out this handsome dude! Meet Capone, a 1-year-old mixed pup who means the world to his mommy!

"My dog is my baby and he means the world to me," his mom says.

Unfortunately, Capone decided to try raisins as a snack. His mom, who knew that raisins were very toxic to pets, called her veterinarian right away and rush Capone to the office.

At the vet they were able to induce vomiting, luckily before the raisins were even digested. 

According to the Pet Poison Helpline: 

Grapes, raisins, sultanas, and even currants (some currants are actually small, black raisins) are toxic to your dog! There have also been anecdotal reports of cats and ferrets being affected. Ingestion of even a small amount of grapes, raisins, or currants can result in severe, acute kidney failure. 

So, how many raisins is too many for your pup to eat? Well, according to VCA Pet Hospitals, there is no well-established toxic dose. But be aware of these two concepts: 

1. dogs are more likely to become poisoned if they ingest large amounts of fruit and
2. there is significant individual sensitivity among dogs. 

VCA continues to say that some dogs appear to tolerate small doses of the fruit without consequence while other dogs may develop poisoning after the ingestion of just a few grapes or raisins. There is no way to predict which dogs may be more sensitive. 

VCA lists out some of the common symptoms of grape or raisin toxicity below.​

Vomiting is generally seen within 24 hours following ingestion. Lack of appetite, lethargy, and possibly diarrhea can be also seen within the next 12-24 hours. 

More severe signs are not seen for 24-48 hours after ingestion – often after acute kidney failure has already begun. Signs of acute kidney failure include nausea, lack of appetite, vomiting, uremic breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, and excessive urination.
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As the poisoning progresses, the kidneys may shut down and the dog will not produce any urine. Following this, the dog's blood pressure will increase dramatically and the dog will usually lapse into a coma. Once the kidneys have shut down and urine output has dropped, the prognosis is poor.

If you suspect that your pet has eaten raisins, or any of these fruits, contact your veterinarian immediately as this kind of poisoning impacts the kidneys. This is an emergency, and it needs immediate treatment by a veterinarian.

Capone's mom is on a single income and she is able to pay for her regular bills, but was so scared that she couldn't afford this emergency visit. She applied to Fur Kids Foundation, and we were happy to help. 

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.