subject: Can Dogs Eat Chocolate? - Find Out How Chocolate Can Kill Your Dog And How You Can Prevent It [print this page] Can Dogs Eat Chocolate? - Find Out How Chocolate Can Kill Your Dog And How You Can Prevent It
Can dogs eat chocolate? Definitely not! It's hard to believe that something that we enjoy so much can be so harmful to dogs but believe it or not, chocolate can KILL dogs. If your dog does get hold on some, you need to know what to do if a dog eats chocolate.
WHY IS CHOCOLATE SO HARMFUL TO DOGS?
Chocolate contains the naturally occurring stimulant, theobromine, which is found in the cocoa bean. Theobromine affects the central nervous system and heart muscle. If a dog eats a significant amount of chocolate, his heart rate will increase along with muscle contractions which could then lead to fits and convulsions.
If your dog has eaten chocolate the symptoms would be:
Increased urination
Excessive panting
Hyperactivity
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased heart rate
HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE IS HARMFUL TO DOGS?
The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. For example; a 20lb dog would need to eat around 50lbs of chocolate for it to be a problem. In the case of baking chocolate, the same dog would only need to eat 2 small 10z squares for to develop dog chocolate poisoning.
WHAT TO DO IF A DOG EATS CHOCOLATE
It's always important that you have a doggy first aid kit. Make sure your kit contains activated charcoal which can bind to many types of poison.
Look out for the symptoms above if you believe your dog has eaten chocolate. It's important that you seek professional help straight away and visit the vet ASAP! If your dog has eaten chocolate he could start having seizures and may even die! If your dog gets treated within 4-6 hours he should be fine, however he may need further treatment as the symptoms can last up to 36 hours.
