How does Chocolate Affect your Dog?
And what to do if eaten…
It’s that delicious time of year again when there’s more chocolate around the house than usual. It may take a day to devour your chocolate or it might be over several weeks. Dogs probably save up their most pleading puppy-dog-eyes for these times of year when we’re eating specials treats they can’t have.
This is a great time to remind all family members that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. Though most folks are aware, there is always a possibility of a youngster unknowingly offering their chocolate to poochy. The foil which encloses chocolate also poses a risk and if it forms a foreign body can block an intestine requiring surgery for removal. Poochy may also be capable of finding your hidden stash so please store carefully. Caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate are of a drug class called Methylxanines. These nervous stimulants can kill if consumed in a high enough dose. The reason is that they cannot be metabolized quickly enough. Humans can process these in around 6-10 hours but in dogs it takes more than 16 hours thus becoming toxic. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs may include excessive panting, vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination or seizures.
Please be sure to safely dispose of any unwanted chocolate (wait, is there such a thing?) and those wrappers too.
If you want to let your dog join in at celebratory times pet supplies to offer some doggy chocolate alternatives. Best to save the food side of Easter for humans although some dogs will happily chomp on a carrot.
Should your dog accidentally consume chocolate, the link below is an excellent reference to help determine your next move.
Click on the link below and scroll down to the dark blue panel where you can enter they type of chocolate, quantity as well as your dog’s weight. As you will quickly see, the type of chocolate is very important to the equation…
https://www.vets-now.com/dog-chocolate-toxicity-calculator/
Leah & Angela OMeara
Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane