Dangers of Chocolate

A common question were asked here at No Bull is if the amount of chocolate your dogs eaten is safe or not.

Chocolate contains substances called methylxanine, these are caffeine and theobromine both of which are toxic to our dogs. Unlike humans, our dogs are unable to break down or metabolise theobromine. The symptoms of the theobromine poisoning can take hours to appear, anywhere from 2 to 24hrs, so if your dog has eaten chocolate seek help immediately do not wait for the symptoms to appear.

Like everything it is the amount and type of chocolate that is ingested that can cause a problem, so what may be safe for a great dane won’t be for a chihuahua, also it can depend on the individual dog and genetics so don’t risk any amount.

The amount of theobromine in chocolate also varies by the type of cocoa bean used and also the brand. The darker the chocolate the more theobromine theirs likely to be. Remember theobromine is found in chocolate cake, biscuits and drinking chocolate, so if your dog ingests any of these then seek veterinarian help. White chocolate contains sugar, cocoa butter and milk and smaller amounts of theobromine. Whilst it’s least likely to cause theobromine toxicity it can potentially cause pancreatitis due to the sugar and fat content. Dark/plain chocolate contains the most theobromine which means even a small amount can be dangerous.

When theobromine starts to build up in a dogs system the first signs that present themselves are vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive panting, restlessness, elevated heart rate and increased urinating. If a high does is ingested symptoms can present as muscle tremors, seizures, heart failure and potentially death.

If your dog has ingested any amount of chocolate we recommend phoning your vet for advice immediately. The vet will likely ask you what kind of chocolate and the weight of your dog to determine the risk and treatment required. If your dog needs to have induced vomiting they will likely feel very sorry for themselves after so feed cooked bland foods like cooked white fish or turkey and a little sweet potato, add to this some slippery elm or marshmallow root powder to sooth the tummy. You can also give bentonite clay to help absorb any toxins.

Written by team NO BULL just natural heath for dogs