Without a doubt, one of the most widely recognized pet poisons is chocolate. This favorite dessert is considered by many pet owners to be so harmful that some refuse to even have any cocoa products in the house. However, is chocolate as harmful as it has been made out to be?
Chocolate is dangerous to dogs because of two naturally occurring chemicals found in the cocoa plant: theobromine and caffeine. Theobromine is part of the methylxanthine family and is responsible for giving unsweetened chocolate a bitter flavor. When theobromine gets into a dog’s bloodstream it causes the release of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine which increase a dog’s heart rate and also trigger heart arrhythmias. Similarly, caffeine is a natural component of chocolate that can cause serious symptoms in pets. Due to their smaller size and different metabolism, even a relatively small dose of caffeine can be fatal to some individuals. Caffeine toxicity in dogs results in restlessness, elevated heart rate, seizures, vomiting, and hyperthermia, among others. Typically, a dog suffering from chocolate toxicity will first exhibit symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and hyperactivity.
Despite the severity of the symptoms that are the result of chocolate toxicity, pet owners may not need to rush their pets to the veterinarian for eating a chocolate bar. Chocolate poisoning is completely dependent on the size of the dog and how much theobromine and caffeine was ingested, as well as the quality of the chocolate bar. For instance, milk chocolate poses the smallest risk to dogs. For a 9 kg dog, 500 grams must be ingested before the dosage is considered lethal. Baking chocolate, on the other hand, is much more lethal than milk chocolate. Only two squares (approximately 58 grams) of baking chocolate can kill a 9 kg dog. By far the worst offender is cocoa powder, where only 15 grams (approximately 1 tablespoon) can cause a 9 kg dog to experience extremely serious side effects.
If you have found that your dog has ingested chocolate, particularly dark chocolate or cocoa powder, it is important to call a veterinarian or poison control hotline right away. Its always better to have your PetCare, to avoid unexpected Vet Bills The veterinarian or poison control center will ask for the exact brand of chocolate and amount that was consumed, as well as your dog’s weight. He or she will be able to determine the severity of the risk posed to your pet and recommend the next course of action. Pet owners are often encouraged to induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide; however, this should never be done without the consent of a professional.
If you find your dog is already displaying symptoms of chocolate toxicity, do not hesitate to take him or her to an emergency veterinarian immediately. At the vet your dog will likely have the contents of his or her stomach emptied and then filled with activated charcoal to bind any remaining theobromine. The vet will stabilize your pet with IV fluids and also treat any symptoms that may be occurring, such as arrhythmia and seizures. Once your pet is stabilized, the prognosis is good and your dog will likely make a full recovery.
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