You love chocolate. You
love your dog. So you want to reward your dog with what you think is one
of life's greatest pleasures, chocolate. STOP! Under NO circumstance should you feed
your dog chocolate. Chocolate is toxic, and often fatal for dogs.
Why is Chocolate toxic to dogs and
not humans? Chocolate contains both Theobromine and Caffeine, which
are known as Methylxanthines, in levels that are toxic to dogs because of
their relatively smaller body size.
What does Theobromine do to the
body? Much like caffeine, it is a Central Nervous System and
Cardiovascular stimulant; it can increase blood pressure and bring on
nausea and vomiting. Some symptoms that a dog may display are: excitement (including nervousness or
trembling), restlessness, hyperactivity,
hypersensitivity to touch, rapid heartbeat and breathing rate, loss of
control of leg muscles, muscle tremor seizures, weakness, Vomiting
/ diarrhea, Excessive
thirst, excessive urination, coma and death.
Some chocolates are more deadly than
others. Unsweetened
chocolate, sometimes known as Bakers chocolate, contains 450 milligrams of
Theobromine per ounce (8-10 times the amount of Theobromine in milk
chocolate at 45-60 mgs/ounce). Semi-sweet chocolate (130-185
mgs/ounce) falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content.
White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in very small amounts. The size
of your dog can also play a factor, the smaller the dog, the less
chocolate needed to be toxic. Based on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Center (APPC) experience, mild signs occur in animals ingesting 10
milligrams of Theobromine per pound of body weight, severe signs are seen
at doses of over 20 mgs per pound of body weight, and 70 mgs/pound of body
weight is a fatal dose for both dogs and humans. Just 2 ounces of
baking chocolate or 4 ounces (1/4 pound) of dark chocolate contains a
fatal dose of Theobromine for a 15-pound dog, and death can occur within 6
to 24 hours of ingesting. If your pug eats as small an amount as 1
Tablespoon of semi-sweet chocolate chips, it may be fatal. Death from
heart failure can also occur after a few days of chronic cumulative
exposure (smaller amounts of chocolate eaten over several days).
What should you do if you suspect
your dog has eaten chocolate? Immediately call your veterinarian for
advice. They will likely suggest that you bring the dog in right away. Be
sure to grab any uneaten chocolate so your veterinarian can better
diagnose the severity of the situation.
The treatment depends on the size of
your dog as well as quantity and type of chocolate it has ingested. There
is no specific antidote for Theobromine toxicity but treatment may include
IV
fluids, medications
that induce vomiting, activated charcoal, anti-seizure
medications
and/or cardiac medications. If ingestion has occurred
within 6 hours, it is worthwhile to induce vomiting in order to lessen the
overall exposure to the Theobromine. Your veterinarian can perform this
procedure, but if you are in a remote area or don't have access to your
veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian within 6 hours of exposure, you
can induce vomiting by having your dog swallow a few tablespoons of
hydrogen peroxide administered with a turkey baster. This technique can
also be a lifesaver if your dog has eaten snail bait. Do not attempt
this emergency procedure without first consulting a veterinarian.
It takes quite a bit of time for
chocolate to break down and be excreted in dogs, from 16 to 24 hours, so
just because your dog ate chocolate while you were at work and seems fine
now, does not mean that it is not going to affect them. Certain
medications like steroids (prednisone and similar drugs) and erythromycin
(an antibiotic) interfere with excretion of theobromine, and can worsen
and lengthen the symptoms.
If you
suspect your dog has eaten some chocolate and are unable to contact your
regular veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian, call animal poison
control hotline. There is usually a charge for this service (usually from
$30-$50.00) so have your credit card ready or use a 1-900 number. 888-4ANI-HELP
(888-426-4435), 888-232-8870, 800-528-2423 and 900-680-0000 are all Animal Poison Center
Hotlines.