If you find that you love sharing your sweets with your dog, you
may be in for a (nasty) treat.
“Chocolate contains a natural occurring stimulant called
theobromine found in the cocoa bean plant Theobroma cocoa, the bean
that makes chocolate. Theobromine is the poison as it affects the
central nervous system, as well as the heart of the dog, throwing
their system into panic which often manifests in the form of
epileptic seizures.”
Yes,
the truth is that chocolate
is poisonous to dogs.
Why is chocolate poisonous to dogs?
Chocolate is made up of cocoa; cocoa contains caffeine and
theobromine. While caffeine isn’t harmful to dogs, theobromine
is.
Why is theobromine poisonous to dogs?
Theobromine becomes toxic to a dog when it ingests between 100 and
150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. According to this
page, different types of chocolate contain different amounts of
theobromine: it would take 20 ounces of milk chocolate to kill a
20-pound dog, but only 2 ounces of baker’s chocolate or 6 ounces of
semisweet chocolate. It is not that hard for a dog to get into
something like an Easter basket full of chocolate eggs and bunnies
and gobble up a pound or two of chocolate. If the dog is small,
that could be deadly.
Unlike humans, who can metabolise theobromine within ten to twenty
minutes, dogs may take up to twenty hours.
What are the symptoms of theobromine
poisoning?
Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Increased urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Arrhythmia
Muscle twitching (severe poisoning)
What treatment can be sought?
According to this page, there is no specific antidote for this
poisoning. Because the half life of the toxin is 17.5 hours in
dogs, veterinarians would try to induce vomiting in the first 1-2
hours if the quantity is unknown. Administering activated charcoal
may inhibit absorption of the toxin. An anticonvulsant might be
indicated if neurological signs are present and needs to be
controlled. Oxygen therapy, intravenous medications, and fluids
might be needed to protect the heart.
Milk
chocolate will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion.
This should be treated symptomatically (ie: given fluids etc.) to
prevent dehydration.
If
you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your vet
immediately. Your vet can help you determine the the proper
treatment for your pet.
The
next time your dog tries to cajole you into giving him some sweet
treats, think harder before giving in.