Margaret Merchant <[log in to unmask]> wrote on 3/15/2006, 3:15 AM:
> Is there any real evidence of this?  I mean other than anecdotal?
 
My vet, Dr. Thomas Kawasaki, has seen several cases of sudden kidney
failure when a ferret has gotten too many raisins at one time.  It is now
a proven fact that raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and based on
the facts that were presented to Dr. K. about the ferrets, his feeling is
it was the raisins.
 
In all cases the ferrets were under 4, had previously been examined by
him and had blood work that showed normal kidney values.  Also, in each
case, the ferret had gotten a box of raisins, and eaten an undetermined
number of raisins, but probably a lot.
 
The problem is not when a ferret gets 1 raisin a day.  The problem is
when the ferrets eats a number at one time (the same is true with dogs
and cats).  Dr. K. estimates based on weight that as few as 7 or 8
raisins eaten at one time could cause kidney failure.
 
There is no evidence that the effect of raisin's is cumulative, though.
That doesn't mean that feeding one raisin a day is not harmful to the
kidneys, just there is no evidence that it is.
 
There is apparently something in grapes and raisins that if eaten in
quantity will cause kidney failure.  It may be in small amounts, the
kidneys are able to effectively clear it.
 
If you do a Google search on dog and raisin, you will find a number of
articles, including a report from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
about the known danger to dogs.
 
--
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://www.ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com
You can help fight ADV!
Visit: http://help4adv.terrabox.com/
[Posted in FML issue 5183]