Dogs and hops

[shoebag22]

just wanted to remind everyone that hops are EXTREMELY poisonous to some dogs. My dog ate 2 or 3 pellets last night and had to be taken to the emergency vet. He started heavily panting at midnight, about 4 hours after ingesting the hops and still had not stopped when we brought him to the vet at 6am. Hops cause a rapid increase in body temperature and rapid heartbeat. I should have brought him to the vet sooner, but did not make the connection until early in the morning.

 

[david_42]

Once again, malignant hyperthermia is a rare genetic disease. Without a muscle biopsy, it cannot be diagnosed.

As a greyhound owner, I have researched this deeply.

 

[HairyDogBrewing]

I hope you little buddy recovers with no lasting harm.
What breed is he?
Also, how certain that he ate hops and how much he ate?

 

[shoebag22]

Once again, malignant hyperthermia is a rare genetic disease. Without a muscle biopsy, it cannot be diagnosed.

As a greyhound owner, I have researched this deeply.

Not trying to get in to a medical argument, just warning fellow homebrewers of the possible dangers...

 

[shoebag22]

I hope you little buddy recovers with no lasting harm.
What breed is he?
Also, how certain that he ate hops and how much he ate?

Black lab. I was portioning out some hops and he hopped on the counter and tipped the bowl over. I saw him grab one pellet off the counter and one that fell on the floor.

 

[david_42]

Not trying to get in to a medical argument, just warning fellow homebrewers of the possible dangers...

This is much like warning people about autism and vaccines. The greyhound cases quoted by Wikipedia all occurred in 1999 and NONE of them were substantiated according to the National Poison Control Center.

 

[MeatyPortion]

My dog runs from the bowl I put the hops in.

 

[jrfuda]

What's intersting is that there are several "remedies" you can buy for Dogs at Petsmart that contain hops and/or hop oil as an ingredient... maybe it's medicinal in extremely low doses? I've never purchased any of these, but stumbled on them while browsing products at petsmart.

 

[Synovia]

What's intersting is that there are several "remedies" you can buy for Dogs at Petsmart that contain hops and/or hop oil as an ingredient... maybe it's medicinal in extremely low doses? I've never purchased any of these, but stumbled on them while browsing products at petsmart.

The problems are essentially like an allergy.


IE, saying Hops are poisonous to dogs is like saying peanuts are poisonous to people.

 

[shoebag22]

This is much like warning people about autism and vaccines. The greyhound cases quoted by Wikipedia all occurred in 1999 and NONE of them were substantiated according to the National Poison Control Center.

I agree with you, but I am warning people because I saw first hand the damage ingesting hops had on my dog. I read some threads about dogs eating hops with no ill effects, but I just wanted to give people a heads up. I called the animal poison control hotline and they instructed the vet on how best to treat my dog, so I don't think this is a totally rare occurence. i know from now on that Porter will be in his crate when i am brewing and would instruct others to be cautious and to know the warning signs if some are ingested. The money spent on this vet bill could have bought some mighty fine homebrew equipment.

 

[Neonsilver]

The problems are essentially like an allergy.


IE, saying Hops are poisonous to dogs is like saying peanuts are poisonous to people.

I would say this is a fine assumption but the difference is that people are tested for allergies, dogs aren't for the most part. I keep my GSD away from them not because I know they will affect her but because I'm not sure if they won't.

 

[gmtech825]

i had a black lab that used to steal beer all the time,she loved it and she lived a long healthy life.

 

[steinsato]

i had a black lab that used to steal beer all the time,she loved it and she lived a long healthy life.

I think raw hops are the only issue here, I've never seen or heard of a dog getting sick from drilnking spilled beer.

 

[steinsato]

I have a Yellow Lab and a Red Border Collie. I ordered 10 hop rhizomes this year to plant in about a month. I guess tonight, I'll have to "offer" them a pellet to see if they turn their noses or try to eat it. If they show interest and want to eat it I may have to consider ditching the whole grow your own hops idea. I'd rather have my dogs than plants.

 

[Synovia]

I think raw hops are the only issue here, I've never seen or heard of a dog getting sick from drilnking spilled beer.

No, its the dog, not the hops. Its a genetic problem that hops can, but don't always, aggravate. Chances are, at some point, something else will aggravate his dog.


Everything from caffeine to diets with too much calcium can set this off.


Hops don't bother dogs. Some dogs have a serious genetic condition that hops can aggravate.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I grow hops and have dogs; but that doesnt mean I wouldn't be worried if I saw one of them eating hops. I would probably take them to the vet even if they werent showing symptoms. There is just no way for you to know if your dog is allergic or have a genetic condition like mentioned above. Fact: some dogs die from eating hops.

Dogs most likely will not eat them off the ground or off the bine. They will, however, eat spent hops soaked with wort.

 

[ChshreCat]

Yeah. I know it's not all dogs, but I keep my dog away from my raw hops just in case. Besides, I don't wanna waste a single cone if I can avoid it!

Other things to avoid your dogs getting: Grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and tomatoes. A bit at a time is fine, but if you dog ate a box of raisins you need to call a vet FAST.

 

[Synovia]

Fact: some dogs die from eating hops.

Could you please post a substantiated case.


I can find none. I can find 8 unsubstantiated cases, all of which are greyhounds.

 

[HoppyDaze]

do a HBT search...there are at least two members here who have lost their dogs after they ate hops. Thats enough for me; Im not going to debate anything here. Just putting in my two cents is all...

 

[Synovia]

do a HBT search...there are at least two members here who have lost their dogs after they ate hops. Thats enough for me; Im not going to debate anything here. Just putting in my two cents is all...

I have done several searches. All I can find is people like you saying "someone on this forum lost a dog" without any actual references.

 

[HoppyDaze]

look harder...surely you can find it. Try using the same methods you used when you found the eight "unsubstantiated" claims.

or just look two posts down. Funny how more effort isn't being put into finding information contrary to your stance...

 

[Neonsilver]

Yeah. I know it's not all dogs, but I keep my dog away from my raw hops just in case. Besides, I don't wanna waste a single cone if I can avoid it!

Other things to avoid your dogs getting: Grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and tomatoes. A bit at a time is fine, but if you dog ate a box of raisins you need to call a vet FAST.

Just so everyone knows, grapes (and raisins of course) shut down their kidneys. Very serious stuff so I wouldn't take a chance at all.


Synovia: I'm not saying a dog would die from it but if you can avoid potential problems, why wouldn't you?

 

[shoebag22]

just talked to the vet and I will be able to pick him up tonight. I don't yet know exactly what steps they took, but I know they had him hooked to an IV to replenish fluids and bring his temp down. I don't know what would have happened if he had gotten to the full ounce or worse, the full pound, but only a couple pellets gave him problems. Maybe he would not have reacted any worse, but it's not an experiment I want to try.
I understand the healthy debate this topic has brought about and certainly don't want to add fuel. THere does seem to be a lot of second hand information out there, some of it is probaby false, but I wish I had known about this issue last night because I would not have waited so long to get him to the vet.
As someone poster earlier, this is probably similar to a peanut or bee allergy. I am not allergic to either, but my mom is allergic to bee stings. My dog is allergic to hops, your dog may not be.

 

[Synovia]

Synovia: I'm not saying a dog would die from it but if you can avoid potential problems, why wouldn't you?

If I avoided every potential unsubstantiated problem, I'd never go outside, let alone drink alcohol.

 

[HoppyDaze]

so this thread is an unsubstantiated claim? You don't believe this happened? Maybe you have something to prove?

 

[broadbill]

so this thread is an unsubstantiated claim? You don't believe this happened? Maybe you have something to prove?

I thought you weren't going to debate?

 

[smokinghole]

Other things to avoid your dogs getting: Grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and tomatoes. A bit at a time is fine, but if you dog ate a box of raisins you need to call a vet FAST.

I thought it was the leaves from ripe tomatoes not the tomatoes themselves. My weim eats everything but leaves alone things I know she shouldn't have. Like she knows or something.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I thought you weren't going to debate?

nothing....

 

[steinsato]

No, its the dog, not the hops. Its a genetic problem that hops can, but don't always, aggravate. Chances are, at some point, something else will aggravate his dog.


Everything from caffeine to diets with too much calcium can set this off.


Hops don't bother dogs. Some dogs have a serious genetic condition that hops can aggravate.

So if a dog that has problems with eating raw hops drinks a beer is he going to have the same problems? Or is it just the raw hops?

 

[Neonsilver]

If I avoided every potential unsubstantiated problem, I'd never go outside, let alone drink alcohol.

So go ahead and feed every dog you have hops and see if you can substantiate it. Either way, I don't take risks when it comes to my dog.


Shoebag: Glad to hear your dog is doing alright.