Why is chocolate toxic to dogs? Understanding the underlying mechanisms
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Furry friends are more than just pets. They’re family. Pet parents share their hearts and homes with them and shower them with love and treats. However, it is crucial to understand that not all treats are safe. The seemingly harmless treats, such as chocolate, can pose health hazards for canines. Keep reading to learn the signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs and understand why they are sensitive to it.
Chocolate Poisoning: What Is It?
- Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and it can lead to chocolate poisoning. It contains caffeine and theobromine that can affect the central nervous system, heart, and kidneys. Humans can digest and excrete these substances much better than dogs, so chocolate isn’t harmful to humans. In addition, the amount of caffeine and theobromine varies in chocolate depending on how much cocoa solids it contains, where it is sourced, and how it’s grown.
Different types of chocolate have different amounts of these substances. Usually, the darker the chocolate, the more likely it is to make your dog sick. Baker’s chocolate, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate have most of these substances, while white chocolate almost has none. That’s why white chocolate is safe for pets and won’t make them sick.
The Side Effects Of Chocolate Toxicity
- The impact of chocolate consumption in dogs varies depending on the quantity ingested and the dog’s body weight. Dogs are at risk if they consume more than 0.5 ounces of milk chocolate per pound of body weight. Even smaller amounts of dark or semi-sweet chocolate, at 0.13 ounces per pound of body weight, can result in sickness.
However, if your dog ingests baker’s chocolate, it results in a veterinary emergency. Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs may appear 2-24 hours after ingestion, resulting in:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Rapid breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
- Hyperactivity
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
In severe cases, these symptoms can progress to heart failure, coma, and, ultimately, death.
Treatment
Depending on the clinical signs, the treatment for chocolate poisoning in dogs may include various approaches. Typical approaches include induced vomiting, administration of activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, heart medications, anti-convulsants, and antacids. Activated charcoal treatments may need to be done more than once to limit theobromine’s ongoing absorption and circulation.
Supportive care, like intravenous fluid therapy, is given to stabilize the dog and help the body eliminate theobromine. It’s crucial to watch dogs that have eaten a dangerous amount of chocolate for signs like restlessness, nervousness, irregular heart rhythm, and high blood pressure. Dogs that eat a little chocolate and only have minor issues have a good chance of recovering. Conversely, the prognosis tends to be less optimistic for cases characterized by severe symptoms like collapse and seizures. In such instances, the prognosis is often considered poor.
Preventing Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
- Preventing chocolate poisoning in dogs primarily involves keeping chocolate and any food items containing chocolate out of their reach. This proactive measure is the most effective strategy to protect your dog from the potential risks associated with chocolate ingestion.
You can significantly reduce the chances of accidental ingestion and promote your furry friend’s overall well-being and health by maintaining an awareness of your dog’s environment and restricting access to chocolate-containing products.
Prompt response is the key to saving your pet’s life. In case of emergency, contact Autumn Trails and Veterinary Center. We provide you with the best urgent care services that keep your pets healthy and happy, especially in the case of an emergency. We offer our veterinary services in the city of Charlottesville, VA. Contact us at (434) 971-9800 to book an appointment.
