Just How Dangerous is Chocolate for Dogs? VERY!
Be particularly careful around Easter
Dear Dog and Cat Loving Friends,
Easter is approaching and most likely we are all going to eat an abundance of chocolate. While there are a multitude of reasons why we shouldn’t overindulge on Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and baked goods, your DOGS MUST NOT EAT ANY chocolate. It is extremely toxic to them. Chocolate can even be fatal depending on the quantity eaten
Chocolate contains two compounds that are toxic to canines: theobromine and caffeine. Although humans can metabolize these chemicals efficiently, dogs metabolize them quite slowly, leading to a buildup in the dog’s bloodstream. When theobromine and caffeine levels get high enough, they make dogs sick.
Theobromine and caffeine are strong stimulants that speed up a dog’s heart rate and gastro-intestinal tract and overload a dog’s central nervous system. The severity of a dog’s symptoms will depend on its weight, as well as both the type and amount of chocolate they’ve ingested. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder are the most dangerous for dogs as they contain the highest amount of theobromine and caffeine. Milk chocolate contains less theobromine and caffeine but can be equally dangerous if enough of it is consumed. White chocolate does not actually contain any cocoa (did you know that?), so there isn’t any theobromine or caffeine in it; however, the very high-fat content in white chocolate will nonetheless cause severe GI issues in your dog.
In simple terms, consumption of as little as 1 ounce of dark chocolate can make a small dog sick. An average dark chocolate bar is about 1.5 ounces and consumption of just one bar for a 20-pound dog can cause severe consequences and can even be fatal to a smaller dog.
Veterinarians use a chocolate toxicity calculator (see image below) to determine a dog’s toxicity level and determine the best treatment protocol. Click this link to the calculator and enter your dog’s weight and various quantities and types of chocolate to see how much chocolate consumption would be dangerous for your dog.
Don’t panic if your dog steals a bite of chocolate cake or a chocolate chip cookie drops to the floor, but consumption of a significant amount of chocolate requires prompt veterinary attention. The initial treatment is to induce vomiting to get rid of any chocolate that is still in the dog’s stomach before it is digested and the chemicals reach the bloodstream. Hospitalized supportive care is often required.
Remember, particularly around holidays that feature chocolate treats in the home, be careful to keep all chocolate -- treats and baking materials -- completely out of your dog’s reach. Chocolate is yours to enjoy, but absolutely none for our canine pets.
Chow, Chow, Chow for now,
Dr. Amy