Canine Chocolate Toxicity
CHOCOLATE TOXICITY
WHY IS CHOCOLATE TOXIC IN DOGS?
1. DOGS CAN’T HAVE CAFFEINE
2. THEOBROMINE IS DANGEROUS FOR DOGS
SIGNS OF CHOCOLATE TOXICITY IN DOGS
Now that you understand why chocolate is dangerous for dogs, it’s important to be able to identify when your pet may be suffering from this poisoning.
Signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs include:
VOMITING AND DIARRHEA
These two problems are the earliest signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs. In light cases, dogs may simply vomiting or have diarrhoea a few times and then feel better.
However, in severe cases, these symptoms may progress further to the others on the list below.
EXCESSIVE THIRST AND URINATION
Since both theobromine and caffeine are diuretics, dogs may show both excessive thirst and urination when they have ingested too much of either of these substances.
RESTLESSNESS
Caffeine, in particular, may cause dogs to behave restlessly. Darker chocolates with higher caffeine contents may lead to this symptom even without the dog ingesting very much of it.
HIGH HEART RATE
An elevated heart rate is a dangerous symptom that could lead to cardiac arrest, especially in older dogs or those with underlying conditions. It can be difficult to monitor your pet’s heart rate at home, so it may be advised to take him to the emergency vet right away for monitoring and/or treatment.
SEIZURES
Seizures are one of the most severe symptoms of extreme chocolate toxicity in dogs. This may only occur when a dog has ingested a large quantity of chocolate, but it can sometimes mean the toxicity will become fatal without veterinary treatment.
Take your dog to the vet right away if he shows this symptom after eating chocolate.
HOW TO RESPOND TO SIGNS OF CHOCOLATE TOXICITY IN DOGS
Depending on the symptoms you notice in your dog after he eats chocolate, you may need to respond in different ways.
CONTACT
If you know your pet has ingested chocolate, please contact the emergency vet right away. Clinical signs and problems are dose dependent and can vary widely based on the size of your pet and the type of chocolate ingested. Sometimes the veterinarian can get your pet to vomit the chocolate up to eliminate or lessen the likelihood of seeing clinical signs.
Do not wait for signs to develop to contact your veterinarian, as once signs are seen, treatment becomes much more difficult.
GO TO THE EMERGENCY VET
If your pet shows any of the symptoms on this list and you know they have ingested chocolate, or based on your veterinarian’s advice, please take him to the emergency vet. Excessive thirst and urination may lead to dehydration quickly, which can be extremely dangerous to dogs.
The sooner you respond to your dog’s concerning symptoms, the more likely it will be that your dog can recover completely from the situation.
HOW TO PREVENT CHOCOLATE TOXICITY IN DOGS
There are several ways you can make your home safer for your dog and prevent chocolate toxicity:
BETTER STORAGE
If you have chocolate of any kind in your home, you always need to be mindful of how you’re storing it and how likely it is that your pet might try to get to it. Whether you have brownies, cookies, bars of milk chocolate, or cocoa powder in your kitchen and/or pantry, they should always be stored in a secure place your pet can’t reach or get into.
Keep cabinets and pantry doors shut whenever possible and don’t leave chocolate treats or wrappers sitting around.
TRAINING
It’s also important to train your pet the “leave it” command to prevent them from grabbing things they shouldn’t, be they edible or inedible. Instilling good habits and obedience in your dog from an early age can save you (and them) lots of trouble later on!
EDUCATE FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Kids are notorious for giving handouts to pets. Teach them not to give your dog any chocolate or other sweets, and get them into the habit of storing things in their proper place.
Make sure they also get into the habit of keeping cabinets, drawers, and the fridge closed securely right after use.
AVOID USING COCOA SHELL MULCH
A rare but nonetheless dangerous source of chocolate toxicity in dogs is cocoa shell mulch. Often used as a top cover for gardens, its sweet aroma can be attractive to dogs and result in them ingesting some of the mulch, which can cause illness.
Always avoid using cocoa shell mulch for your landscaping.
CALL AN EMERGENCY VET IF YOUR DOG HAS CHOCOLATE TOXICITY
With the help of this information, you should be able to keep your pets safer at Easter as well as any time of the year when you have chocolate around. Pay close attention to any pets in your household and keep chocolate stored safely out of their reach. By doing this, you can prevent this potentially dangerous problem from occurring at all.
If you know or think your dog has consumed chocolate, call an emergency vet right away.