I should have posted this on Friday when it happened, but it's been one event after another here!


Friday, my coworkers were planning to visit and catch some tadpoles from my pond, for their students to raise in class.  
I had set out some nice rum raisin covered goat cheese, and my mother had set it on the table along with some other goodies.  

Neither of us saw my 5 month old puppy, Becky checking the table out until it was too late, and she had eaten half the cheese, raisins and all!

Being the neurotic dog owner that I am, I flew onto the internet to see if the rum in that cheese might be harmful to my dog.  Instead, I read warning after warning about the raisins.  

That's right, raisins and any other members of the grape family are highly dangerous for dogs.  Cases vary, but even a few raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs!!


Needless to say, I was understandably upset when I read that and informed my mother at once.  She was slow to believe me, but dialed the vet right away and they confirmed what I had read and urged us to come in at once to have the poor puppy's stomach emptied.  (A very nice way of saying that we had to make her puke)

Becky was as happy as ever to get out, go for a car ride, and crawl submissively toward every dog in reach when we entered the waiting room, and we were the second name called and hurried into the vet's room.  
It was a shot, surprisingly.  I had been expecting them to force charcoal down her throat, but instead a simple shot to her flank, and then the vet was urging me to get her outside *Right Away!*

I was a little bewildered, but obediently took Becky out onto the lawn.  Not ten seconds later, she began to retch and sure enough, there were raisins scattered throughout.  

Just to be safe I ran her a bit to clear her system, just glad that she had gotten rid of the threat.  


No one knows yet what it is about grapes and raisins that causes renal (kidney) failure in dogs, but it is definitely the fruit itself, not any pesticides or fertilizers.  
So please do not take the chance with your own dog.  It's just not worth it.  
Make sure that any foods are positioned safely near the center of the table, never near the edge.  
Becky proved to us that she can reach a surface that is a good three feet above her head, so better safe than sorry!



I had no idea that raisins could cause so much trouble, and neither did anyone I spoke to, but it is very important information that every dog owner should know, so please pass it on.