Even though they’re supposed to know better and instinctively avoid poisonous foods, some dogs will hunt down chocolate. And even though your pet might not have gotten sick from eating the sweet stuff before, really doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future. But why is the combination of dogs and chocolate so dangerous? Here’s the scoop:
Why dogs and chocolate shouldn’t be friends
Chocolate is made from the seeds of the Cacao plant with the main toxic component being the methylxanthine alkaloids which we know as the theobromine and caffeine. Humans digest and excrete these substances without any issues. Where the active components stay in our system for about two or three hours, it stays active in a dog’s system for up to 18 hours.
What does chocolate do to your dog?
Theobromine affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and the respiratory system. All three of those systems are crucial for a dog’s body to function properly. If your dog gets poisoned by chocolate, you might see initial symptoms like vomiting and excessive water intake. Those symptoms might be followed by hyperirritable behaviour. Increased heart rates, excessive panting, ataxia (acting like they’re drunk) and muscle spasms can also occur. Eventually, it can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and even death.
Can my dog die if he eats too much chocolate?
The lethal dose of theobromine for dogs is 10-500mg per kg. but the thing you need to keep in mind is that not all chocolates are equally as toxic because some types contain more theobromine than others. The higher the cocoa content, the higher the theobromine levels. 100g of dark chocolate can be lethal to a 10kg dog, but it’s not the case with 100g of milk or white chocolate.
How chocolate poisoning is treated in dogs
In the case of dogs and chocolate, there is, unfortunately, no specific antidote for theobromine poisoning. This means that it’s treated supportively. Your vet might induce vomiting, use intravenous fluid therapy and administer activated charcoal or oxygen if needed.
The best treatment really is prevention. Dogs love chocolate, but that doesn’t mean it is good for them. Don’t run the risk of accidentally poisoning your pet, stick to safe and healthy dog treats instead.
