Chocolate is Toxic to Dogs
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| Duffy Stringer |
People are not the only ones with a love for chocolate. Pets like chocolate too. Chocolate toxicity is most common around holidays when chocolate can be found at every turn. Unfortunately, dogs do not show any restraint with how much they consume. Chocolate is also toxic to cats, but they often do not eat enough of this delicacy to cause toxicity.
Chocolate contains a group of chemicals known as methylxanthines; most specifically, theobromine and caffeine. Dogs and cats cannot tolerate the higher levels of these compounds like people can. Different types of chocolate have varying amounts of these toxic compounds:
Milk chocolate>Semi-Sweet (Bittersweet) Chocolate>Cocoa Bean Mulch>Baking Chocolate>Cocoa powder White chocolate contains insignificant amounts of the toxic compounds, and is therefore rarely toxic.
Symptoms of chocolate toxicity depend on:
- type of chocolate eaten,
- how much was eaten
Mild toxicity: vomiting, diarrhea
Moderate toxicity: vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and a racing heart rate
Severe toxicity: seizures and death
Chocolate ingestion is considered an emergency. If you think that your pet has eaten chocolate, call the veterinary clinic immediately for recommendations. Time is of the essence.
Since chocolate containing foods often contain butter or milk, the high fat content can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) in dogs. Pancreatitis causes intense abdominal pain and vomiting and requires hospitalization to recover.
To keep your pet healthy and out of the emergency room, be sure to always store chocolate containing items in a tightly sealed container far out of reach from your pet.