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Updated: Feb 1st, 2005 - 20:09:41 |
Chocolate is known as one of the most popular comfort foods in America and Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular chocolate giving holidays of the year. A word to the wise: in over 60% of homes where chocolate is delivered this month, you’re likely to find a curious and hungry dog.
Unfortunately, chocolate and dogs do not mix well. Chocolate can be a very dangerous, toxic substance for our dogs. But how can something that many humans find so delectable be so harmful for your dog and why is it considered poisonous?
The answers depend on the type of chocolate the dog has gotten into and how much it has consumed. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals in which caffeine and theobromine – two main ingredients in chocolate – are members. Dogs are unable to excrete these chemicals as efficiently as humans are. The amount of time the chocolate stays in a human’s body is about two hours. But in a dog, it’s more like 18 hours. Baking chocolate and unsweetened chocolate contain larger doses of theobromine than the milk chocolate that is contained in most candy bars, making the former two types of chocolate the most dangerous.
Most veterinarians have seen the effects of chocolate at one point or another in their careers. Laurie Stein, veterinarian and owner of Cornwall Animal Hospital is no exception. Dr Stein says that the compounds travel via the liver and bile duct into the intestine where they are converted back into the original chemicals once again and travel another circuit through the dog's system.
"This process keeps on repeating itself so that instead of excreting the substance like humans do, the dog keeps on re-poisoning itself." said Dr. Stein.
If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, there are a few signs to look for. "Toxic signs appear rather quickly," said Dr. Stein, "Do not wait to see if the animal will be alright if there is any suspicion that your dog has eaten chocolate because any delay in treatment could be devastating."
If left untreated, dogs can quickly go into convulsions, experience arrhythmia, stop breathing and go into a coma. The symptoms of poisoning are vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity to touch, rapid heartbeat and rate of breathing with loss of control of the leg muscles, followed by muscle tremors, then seizures, general weakness, coma and ultimately, death. Vomiting and diarrhea are sure symptoms and can be so severe as to cause the animal to dehydrate quickly.
If you suspect your dog had a taste of the lethal substance seek medical help immediately and be sure to take the unfinished chocolate – if any is left – and any wrappings from the chocolate with you to the vet. This will help the vet identify the type of chocolate and the concentration of the harmful chemicals in the candy.
How much chocolate it takes to poison your dog depends on the dog’s weight and the type of chocolate it ingested. According to Dr. Stein, “not much. One ounce could be too much, especially for smaller dogs. So why take the chance on waiting it out,” said Dr. Stein. “It is imperative to seek emergency help immediately.”
Following is a list of the most common sources of chocolate and the amount of each that leads to poisonous levels:
White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to cause signs of nervous system poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds for a 10-pound dog.
Milk chocolate: One ounce per pound of body weight. Approximately one pound of milk chocolate is poisonous to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog. Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic level. Keep in mind that the average chocolate bar contains two to three oz. of milk chocolate. It would take two to three candy bars to produce toxicity in a 10-pound dog.
Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight. One-third of a pound of sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog; 1/6 pound for a 10-pound dog.
Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound of body weight. Two one-ounce squares of baker’s chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.
The best medicine for chocolate poisoning is prevention. If sweets such as chocolate are a frequent snack in your household, take care to keep them away from your pet. An ounce of prevention is, in this case, worth a pound of cure.
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