The first thing to do if your dog eats chocolate is to act quickly but not panic. Stay calm for your dog. I know this is easier said than done. One of my dogs ate chocolate, so I’ve been there.
If your dog shows signs of chocolate toxicity, time is of the essence. Seek medical advice from your emergency veterinarian or a pet poison helpline immediately.
They may ask for details like the type of chocolate consumed, your dog’s weight, and the amount. It’s also important to know when your dog ate the chocolate, it makes a difference if it was 2 hours ago, 24-hour hours ago, or 2 days.
Let’s dive into the different types of chocolate, theobromine content, the size of your dog, symptoms of chocolate poisoning, and most importantly, how you can use a chocolate toxicity calculator to determine the severity of the situation.
Chocolate Toxicity Calculator
The chocolate toxicity calculator will help you figure out how much chocolate is lethal to dogs. A small bite of dark chocolate is not the same as if your dog ate a chocolate chip cookie.
All you need to do is plug in the type of chocolate, the amount, and your dog’s weight, it then gives you an estimate of the risk level.
In rare cases, a small dog might need medical attention even if they ingested a relatively small amount of chocolate. The calculator helps you gauge the urgency and decide whether a trip to the vet is necessary.
This Chocolate Toxicity calculator is brought to you by PetCare.com.au to help dog owners get a better idea if they should be rushing to the emergency vet.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
According to the AKC website, it can take 6 to 12 hours for your dog to show any symptoms of chocolate poisoning, and symptoms can last up to 72 hours.
Recognizing the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs is crucial for prompt intervention. Theobromine, present in chocolate, affects dogs’ central nervous and cardiovascular systems, leading to a range of symptoms.
In mild cases, you might observe:
- increased thirst
- restlessness
- panting
- vomiting
- diarrhea
As the toxicity progresses, your dog may experience more severe signs such as:
- elevated heart rate
- tremors
- muscle rigidity
- seizures
In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can lead to heart failure, coma, or even death.
It’s essential to be highly aware and seek immediate veterinary attention if you notice any of these symptoms, especially considering that early recognition and action can significantly improve the chances of a positive outcome.
If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, do not wait to see symptoms. It’s best to treat your dog before they shows signs of feeling sick.
Use the Chocolate Toxicity Meter for Dogs above, and call your emergency vet right away.
What Types of Chocolate Are Toxic to My Dog?
Okay, let’s get one thing straight – not all chocolates are created equal. There are three main types we need to be aware of: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be for our dogs. Baker’s chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate are at the top of the danger list due to their high theobromine content. On the other hand, white chocolate contains very little theobromine, making it less harmful to dogs.
So the simple answer is that ALL chocolate can be toxic, depending on the type, amount, and size of your dog.
Chocolate comes in many forms. If your dog ate a chocolate chip cookie, chocolate cake, or donut and you are worried, use the toxicity calculator above.
Always use caution and call your emergency vet if you are concerned or see any signs of chocolate poisoning.
What are Methylxanthines and Theobromine?
The toxic compounds in chocolate are methylxanthines, specifically theobromine and caffeine.
Methylxanthines are a group of compounds found in chocolate, with theobromine being the primary methylxanthine of concern when it comes to dogs. Theobromine belongs to the methylxanthine class and is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular systems in both humans and animals.
In chocolate, theobromine is derived from cocoa beans, and its concentration varies among different types of chocolate.
Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, unsweetened baking chocolate, and certain gourmet or baking chocolates contain higher levels of theobromine compared to milk chocolate or white chocolate. Dogs metabolize theobromine more slowly than humans, making them more susceptible to its toxic effects.
When a dog ingests chocolate, theobromine can lead to various symptoms of poisoning, ranging from mild to severe.
Methylxanthines stimulate the release of adrenaline, leading to increased heart rate, restlessness, and, in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures.
Theobromine also affects the gastrointestinal system, causing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
It’s crucial for pet owners to be aware of the theobromine content in different chocolate products and recognize that smaller dogs are at a higher risk due to their size and metabolism. Understanding the role of methylxanthines in chocolate toxicity helps in taking timely action if a dog accidentally consumes chocolate, as prompt veterinary attention is essential to mitigate the potential harmful effects.
Treatment Options for When Your Dog Eats Chocolate
Do not try home remedies if your dog eats chocolate. Chocolate poisoning can be deadly, it’s not something you want to handle on your own. Talk to your veterinarian about possible treatments you can do at home.
When a dog ingests chocolate, prompt and appropriate treatment is crucial to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of theobromine, a stimulant found in chocolate. The specific treatment options depend on the severity of the chocolate ingestion and theobromine toxicity.
Here are some common treatment options:
- Inducing Vomiting: In mild cases, if the ingestion occurred within the last two hours, a veterinarian may recommend inducing vomiting to remove the chocolate from the stomach. This is often done using hydrogen peroxide, but it should only be administered under veterinary guidance.
- Activated Charcoal: To further prevent absorption of theobromine into the bloodstream, activated charcoal may be administered. Activated charcoal binds to the theobromine in the stomach, preventing its absorption.
- Hospitalization: In moderate to severe cases, especially if theobromine levels in the bloodstream are high, hospitalization may be necessary. Intravenous fluids can help flush theobromine from the system and provide supportive care.
- Medications: Medications may be administered to control symptoms, such as seizures or abnormal heart rhythms. Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate medications based on the clinical signs exhibited by your dog.
- Monitoring: After initial treatment, close monitoring of your dog’s vital signs, including heart rate and respiratory rate, is essential. This allows veterinarians to assess the response to treatment and address any emerging issues promptly.
Remember, treatment should always be administered by a veterinary professional. Never attempt to induce vomiting or administer any medications without consulting your veterinarian first.
Most popular chocolate holidays
The top three chocolate holidays in order of popularity include:
- Easter (March/April)
- Halloween (October 31)
- Valentine’s Day (February 14)
Other popular chocolate holidays:
- Christmas (December 31)
- Mother’s Day (May)
- Birthday’s
- Anniversary’s
- Father’s Day (June)
- National Chocolate Day (October 28th)
- World Chocolate Day (July 7)
My Dog and Chocolate Story
Let me take you back a few years to a moment of mild panic in our household. Our lovable 80-pound black lab, Nala, decided to embark on a secret chocolate feast. It happened after a pleasant dinner out with my family; my kids were eagerly searching for the Valentine’s Day chocolates Grandpa had sent. To our surprise, all we found were two empty boxes scattered on the floor. The realization hit – Nala had indulged in not one but two small boxes of chocolates.
With a couple of hours away from home, the worry set in. Fortunately, Nala showed no signs of illness, and we learned a valuable lesson: never leave chocolate unattended on the counter. It’s a memory we chuckle about now, but it serves as a reminder to keep our sweet treats out of our dog’s reach.
Conclusion
The best way to deal with chocolate poisoning is to prevent it in the first place. Keep all kinds of chocolates well hidden and out of your dog’s reach. Educate family members, especially children, about the dangers of sharing chocolate with your dog.
So there you have it – a crash course on what to do if your dog gets into chocolate. The importance of recognizing symptoms, and acting quickly by contacting emergency veterinary services are crucial for a happy ending. Better safe than sorry. A phone call to your vet will help put your mind at ease.
My dog is a maltese, he ate a half of a chocolate covered graham cracker cookie. Will he be ok.
Most likely he will be fine. Use the calculater to enter his weight and amount he ate. If you are concerned it doesn’t hurt to call your vet.
My 6 month old pup who’s around 25-28kg ate 400g of milk chocolate. He’s 8 hours after eating the chocolate, he’s not showing signs, I live in an extremely remote area and I don’t have access to a vet. I’m super worried is there anything I can do?
My dog is40 of and ate 175 grams of milk chocolate ,,just wondering if it will b ok
Did you use the toxicity calculator? It shows Mild – Moderate. If you are seeing any symptoms call your vet right away.
So i walked into the tv room and one or both of my dogs ate around 4 Hershey kisses one is a pit bull and the other is a poodle will they be ok i dont have the money to take them to the animal hospital since its after 8pm here
I’m praying your dogs are okay! Hershey kisses are usually milk chocolate, which is low on the toxicity level.
My english golden cream service dog ate a 6.6 oz box of chocolate covered cherries. At first I was OMG!!!! But I looked up what to do and found a formula for calculation. Ounces of chocolate x fifty eight ÷ dogs weight. As long if the final number is not to close to 20 they should be fine but to watch them for 72 hours. So for mine it was 6.6×58÷70 came out to be 5.468 so hopefully he will be ok
My dog ate about 600 mg of dark chocolate a few days ago and he got extremely sick. He is a 7 year old Rhodesian ridgeback/mastiff and weighs 87 pounds, who has an enormous sweet tooth! That amount made him violently ill. He threw up a lot at first and then was extremely hyper active. I took him to the vets and his heart rate was above 200! He was very sick. For the past two days he has been on IV fluids and has a catheter in place. He is back home now for the night, and hopefully he rests tonight and gets no more tremors.
Dark chocolate in the amount he ate has been extremely toxic. I thought we were going to lose him. I will never have chocolate in our home again! This experience has scared me a lot!
Wow, thank goodness your dog is okay! Thanks for sharing your story.
My dog is a shore and he ate like less then a half of the bottom of a muffin and I was terrified
In the mid 1970’s, we went to a cabin in the mountains with another family for Christmas week. We brought our wrapped gifts with us. Our friends had a Cairn Terrier they left in the cabin while we all went to town to buy a tree. When we returned, there were empty paper cups and a shredded Sees one lb. candy box, no candy. The dog had vomited, had diarrhea and drank water like crazy. None of us knew about the toxicity and just watched him until the problem disappeared in a couple of days. He never seemed to be in any lingering distress and recovered. Sees chocolates are a very high end candy and the box had an assortment. Someone had given our friends the box for Christmas.
Wow! Thank God he was okay!
This is very useful information and I feel would benefit a lot of pet owners. Gonzo ate some chocolate once (the girls were not being careful with their cupcake) and I panicked. The vet confirmed everything you wrote. Also, that some dogs because of sensitivity or low immune system may react more regardless of dosage.
Yeah it happens, kids will drop food, nothing you can do about that. So glad Gonzo was okay! Great point about having a low immune system. Thank you for sharing.
My response to your post title is: TRY not to panic!! My dog ate a big thing of chocolate chip cookies. Luckily he is 70lbs and it was semisweet. He sure had a tummy ache from all those cookies, but he turned out to be ok. I of course visited the chocolate calculator!
I had no idea that chocolate could be toxic for dogs until a few years ago while reading some of the dog blogs. It scares me how much we may have “messed up” our pets back when I was a child because we had no idea of the food and plants that were toxic.