Most dog owners have heard about the potential risks associated with chocolate for dogs. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs whether the dog is eating baker’s chocolate or milk chocolate.
However, the amount of chocolate required to reach a toxic level depends on the type of chocolate being consumed. Mild signs may be exhibited when the dog eats as little as 20 mg per kg of body weight. The dose could be deadly if the dog eats more than 60 mg per kg.
The impact can happen within hours so it is pertinent to act quickly. Why is chocolate toxic to dogs? Ultimately, it concerns the chocolate’s caffeine and theobromine content. These chemicals are part of the methylxanthine family. Dogs are unable to metabolize these chemicals as well as humans. As a result, chocolate can be deadly to canines.
The Science Behind Chocolate Toxicity In Dogs
Dog owners are often warned about the risks of chocolate. Unfortunately, this delicious treat can be dangerous for canines. If it is consumed in significant amounts, the chocolate could be deadly.
Therefore, it is essential to prevent your pets from eating chocolate. What is it about chocolate that makes it so dangerous? As mentioned above, chocolate is dangerous because it contains caffeine and theobromine which are members of the methylxanthine family.
For humans, theobromine is an effective vasodilator, which will widen the blood vessels. It is also known as a heart stimulant and can aid in urination. The primary difference is that humans can digest theobromine and caffeine pretty well but dogs cannot. This chemical is chocolate’s main ingredient, and the caffeine content doesn’t help.
If a dog eats chocolate, it will not be able to metabolize these chemicals well. If the dog doesn’t die, it will likely experience an array of symptoms. Even small pieces of chocolate can lead to serious problems for dogs. For smaller dogs, it will require a smaller amount of chocolate to lead to fatalities. If you’re going to eat chocolate around your dog, make sure it doesn’t fall to the ground.
It may be best to take your dog out of the room until you’ve finished.
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Types Of Chocolate And Their Danger Levels
There are several types of chocolate and each is unique in numerous ways. Some of the most common types include white chocolate, milk chocolate, baking chocolate, and dark chocolate. What is unique about these types of chocolate?
One of the main differences is the theobromine content. In particular, milk chocolate has the lowest level of theobromine. An ounce of milk chocolate will contain roughly 44 mg of theobromine. An ounce of baking chocolate contains nearly 400 mg of theobromine. White chocolate contains very little if any theobromine.
Nevertheless, white chocolate can still be a problem for dogs because of its high fat content. Since theobromine is the main reason chocolate is dangerous, the chocolate with the highest content of theobromine is the most dangerous. In this situation, baker’s chocolate would be the most toxic. Caffeine is another story. A small amount of caffeine shouldn’t cause any serious problems.
The results could be fatal if a dog takes large amounts of caffeine. Finally, it should be noted that plain or baker’s chocolate and cocoa powder are the riskiest because they contain much higher amounts of theobromine. White chocolate is considered the least risky chocolate for dogs, but it can still pose numerous risks. It is essential to keep chocolate candies away from your dogs.
Theobromine is also found in chocolate drinks and chocolate-based foods. It is found in tea, mate, and coffee beans although the quantities are small. Regardless, keeping these products away from your dogs is still wise to avoid problems.
Symptoms Of Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs
Dog owners should always be aware of the potential health problems their dogs may encounter. If these issues can be spotted immediately, treating them before they become fatal may be possible. Chocolate poisoning can be easy to spot if you’ve been eating chocolate candies around your dog. However, you may not realize that your dog has consumed chocolate until it is too late.
Knowing the signs of chocolate poisoning can make a big difference. If a dog eats chocolate, it may begin exhibiting signs. For starters, the dog may begin vomiting and having increased thirst. It can also become restless and begin panting. A racing heart rate, diarrhea, and excessive urination are other signs associated with chocolate poisoning in dogs.
Do not expect these symptoms to occur rapidly. In some cases, it may take up to 6 hours before the dog displays any symptoms. On the other hand, it may take even longer. If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, you should have time to do something about it. Don’t delay getting treatment. Waiting longer will increase the likelihood that the condition will be fatal. Call your vet or drive there immediately to save your dog’s life.
The dog may experience muscle tremors, heart failure, and seizures in serious cases. If the amount of chocolate consumed is high and nothing is done about it, chocolate poisoning can be fatal.
Treatment For Chocolate Ingestion
Some people will know that their dogs have eaten chocolate. After all, you might’ve dropped a piece on the floor before your dog quickly snatched it. If you know that your dog has eaten chocolate, you’ll have a better chance of doing something about it.
On the other hand, you may not realize that your dog has eaten chocolate. If the latter is the case, the veterinarian will have to diagnose the problem first. Unfortunately, there is no known antidote for theobromine poisoning.
Therefore, the vet will have to use other techniques to treat the issue. In particular, most vets are going to start by giving the dog intravenous fluids. The dog will also receive activated charcoal. The latter will help the dog vomit and remove any chocolate from its system. Since the dog is going to vomit, there is a risk that it’ll become dehydrated. This is one of the reasons the dog will be given fluids intravenously.
The good news is that the prognosis is excellent once the dog has received treatment. If the activated charcoal is administered quickly, it may be possible to remove the chocolate before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. At home and in case of emergencies, it may be possible to use hydrogen peroxide to make your dog vomit.
Remember that you should never do this unless your vet has approved it first. It is always best to let a vet handle the treatment for you because using too much of anything can cause more problems.
The veterinarian will ensure that the dog is kept in a controlled environment during the treatment. Plus, the vet will have access to other tools and medication in the event that something goes awry. Although at-home treatments are possible, letting a vet treat the condition is safer.
Prevention And Safety Tips
The best way to deal with chocolate toxicity is by ensuring that your dog doesn’t eat chocolate. You won’t have to worry about this issue if you can keep chocolate away from your dog. For starters, you can avoid eating chocolate around your dog.
If you want to be as cautious as possible, don’t buy chocolate or bring chocolate candy into your home. If you don’t have chocolate at home, you won’t have to worry about your dog eating it. You’ll also want to speak to your friends, family members, and service providers. If someone is going to be inside your home, tell them about the risks of chocolate.
More importantly, anyone watching your dog should be asked not to bring chocolate. Some people love chocolate so they’re going to eat it anyway. Be sure to keep the chocolate away from your home. Eat it when your dog is out of the room or step outside to eat the chocolate.
Once you’ve finished, check the floor and surface to ensure that you didn’t drop any pieces. You may even want to vacuum to minimize the risk. The easiest way to deal with chocolate toxicity is to prevent your dog from eating chocolate.
You can also take advantage of obedience training to stop your dog from misbehaving. You may be able to prevent your dog from eating scraps off the floor.
Individuals with children will have a more difficult time because their children may be tempted to give dogs things they shouldn’t have. Talk to your children extensively and tell them about the dangers of chocolate. They’ll listen because they love your dog and don’t want anything bad to happen to him.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, dogs are prone to numerous health problems. One of the most common is chocolate toxicity. This problem happens frequently due to mistakes and ignorance. On the other hand, it can happen by chance.
You just never know when your dog is going to get into something it shouldn’t. You’re not always home so you can’t watch your dog 24 hours a day. With this in mind, you should take steps to ensure that your dog doesn’t eat chocolate. Be aware of the risks associated with plain chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate.
Each type of chocolate can be fatal when consumed in significant amounts. To avoid such issues, it would be best to keep chocolates away from your dog. Even if the condition isn’t fatal, it can still lead to serious repercussions.
Once you’ve discovered that your dog has consumed chocolate, do something about it. Don’t delay because it is best to induce vomiting before the chocolate enters the dog’s bloodstream.
Your vet will use activated charcoal to make your dog vomit. This effectively removes the chocolate from the dog’s body before it enters the bloodstream. If your vet’s office isn’t open, you may have to use hydrogen peroxide or another at-home treatment to rectify this problem. The best solution is to make sure that your dog doesn’t eat chocolate.
Reference:
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/what-to-do-if-your-dog-ate-chocolate/–
- https://sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au/dog-chocolate-toxicity/
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chocolate-poisoning-in-dogs
FAQ Section
How Much Chocolate Is Too Much For A Dog?
The amount of chocolate that will be toxic for a dog depends on the type of chocolate you’re dealing with. In particular, plain chocolate is the most toxic because it contains larger amounts of theobromine.
White chocolate is the least toxic since it contains very little theobromine if any. For chocolate to be toxic, a 50-pound dog would need to consume an ounce of baker’s chocolate. Alternatively, it may die after eating 9 ounces of milk chocolate.
Is White Chocolate As Dangerous As Dark Chocolate For Dogs?
White chocolate usually contains little to no theobromine. As for dark chocolate, it contains more theobromine. Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and caffeine. Although white chocolate is less toxic than dark chocolate, both types can be problematic.
Another issue with chocolate is the fact that it is high in fat. Dogs should never eat chocolate regardless of the type. If you’re going to eat any type of chocolate around your dog, make sure that your dog doesn’t get any. In terms of toxicity, plain chocolate is the worst type for canines.
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate A Chocolate Chip Cookie?
Are you concerned that your dog just ate a chocolate chip cookie? Although the cookie likely contained limited chocolate, there is still a risk that it could make the dog sick. You may want to be as cautious as possible. If this is the case, you shouldn’t delay getting medical treatment. Take your dog to a nearby vet as soon as possible.
The dog will be evaluated to determine what type of treatment is necessary. If the vet finds that the dog has eaten a toxic amount of chocolate, it will start by giving the dog fluids intravenously. Then, vomiting will be induced using activated chocolate. Acting quickly is the best way to minimize the risks of chocolate toxicity.