HOUND HEALTH ALERT

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.

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