There’s a reason there were no dogs in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory!
Chocolate is extremely toxic and harmful to dogs and depending on the type of chocolate and how much they consumed based on their size and weight, it could become a medical emergency.
As a dog owner, these things happen — dogs chew up and swallow shoes and they get into boxes of the chocolate that your child was selling for a school fundraiser. The call to dog owners is to become educated on what to do if and when these things occur.
At The Vet Set, the more you’re armed with vital information that could save your dog’s life, the better. Today’s post is all about the seriousness of chocolate and what to do if your dog gets ahold of some. Get your need-to-know information below.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate
Chocolate is harmful to your dog, we’ll repeat that, dogs should not eat chocolate.
Got it?! Okay, great, let’s move on!
Chocolate contains two compounds that are harmful to your dog including caffeine and theobromine. These compounds both affect a dog’s nervous system and accelerate your dog’s heart rate, making them ill.
It’s the amount and type of chocolate that determines the medical severity. Let’s explore the most toxic types to dogs, they include:
- Cocoa powder
- Cacao nibs
- Bakers chocolate (unsweetened)
- Semisweet chocolate
- Dark chocolate
- Milk chocolate
When you know how much and what kind of chocolate your dog ate it can help your vet understand the degree of the emergency. What this looks like in simple terms is an average chocolate bar is 1.5 ounces and a harmful dose to dogs is one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of bodyweight.
So, eating a bite of chocolate cake or a little piece of a chocolate bar may not be a medical emergency, but if you’re small Chihuahua eats a whole bar of chocolate, this is a major medical issue.
Chocolate, while delicious to humans, should never be fed as a treat to dogs.
While most wouldn’t go about feeding their dog a chocolate bar, sometimes we forget when we’re eating brownies or a chocolate cupcake until after the fact.
The Ill Effects of Chocolate On Dogs
Chocolate poisoning is a real health concern in dogs and if your dog eats chocolate, signs can appear within six to 12 hours after ingestion, and can last for up to 72-hours. Signs of chocolate poisoning may present as the following:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Restlessness
- High heart rate
- Increased urine output
- Collapse
- Unconsciousness
- Death
It’s important to point out that if you have an older dog or a dog with any health issues, they may be more sensitive to the effects of chocolate.
What should you do if your dog ate chocolate?
If your dog ate chocolate, it’s important to contact your vet right away. The more information you have, the better, so try and gather what type of chocolate your dog ate, how much was consumed, and the breed and weight of your dog.
Based on this information, your vet may ask you to bring your dog in or monitor it at home and check back in if their condition worsens.
There is also a Pet Poison Helpline that you can call in an emergency ((855)764-7661). Another option is calling an emergency vet in the Carroll Gardens area, however, The Vet Set can be reached in an emergency.
Chocolate is an off-limit treat that is poisonous to dogs, so not only is it important to avoid them from getting it, it’s also imperative you know the signs in case of an accidental poisoning.
For more information on how we can help you (and your dog) in an emergency medical situation, contact us today!