BREWERS
ALERT: Hop Toxicity in Dogs
Dispose of sparged hops in a secure and safe
fashion.
We (Tom and Marcy from Fall Bright) do not know if this
toxic response would take place in children. Crosby and Baker, Ltd,
Westport, MA passed along the above information to us.
Unbeknownst to most
vets, at least eight cases of hop toxicity
in dogs have been….
Hops Toxicity in
Dogs
We have received a report from a brewer whose dog died as a result of eating the
spent hops from a 15-gallon batch of Irish Stout.
Unbeknownst to most vets, at least eight cases of hop toxicity in dogs have been recorded by the National Animal
Poison Control Center at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL. Seven of the dogs have been Greyhounds, with one
remaining case being a Labrador Retriever cross.
Ingestion of hops results in malignant hyperthermia, an uncontrollable fever. The
first symptom to become obvious to an owner is heavy panting. Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) will also be present,
at up to 200 beats per minute. Temperature may rise as quickly as a 2 degrees F every five minutes. Carbon dioxide
levels in the blood rise dramatically. Recommended treatment seems to be cold-water baths to keep temperatures
down, and a quick trip to the vet for temperature control and antibiotics.
The most basic lesson to be learned from all this is that brewing chemicals,
ingredients, and spent materials of all types should be stored, handled and disposed of properly. Animals and
children make toys and food out of anything they can reach.
Even empty brewing vessels can pose a threat if used improperly and can become the focus of a household accident.
Note, for example, the child-warning label required in California on all buckets. It's our responsibility it seems,
to inform the consumer that any vessel larger than a child's head and without enough leaks to drain completely
before drowning can occur can pose a threat to children. In fact, it's the parent's or the pet owner's
responsibility to look after the welfare of the loved ones.
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