If your dog eats chocolate, it can be toxic and potentially life-threatening due to two compounds in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. Dogs metabolize these substances much more slowly than humans, leading to toxic effects primarily on the central nervous system and heart
What happens when a dog eats chocolate?
- Theobromine and caffeine stimulate the dog's central nervous system and heart, acting as diuretics and potentially causing dehydration
- Dogs may develop gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis due to the fat and sugar content in chocolate
- Clinical signs typically appear within 2 to 12 hours after ingestion and can last 12 to 36 hours or longer in severe cases
- Symptoms include:
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Diarrhea
- Increased thirst and urination
- Restlessness and hyperactivity
- Rapid breathing or panting
- Increased heart rate or irregular heart rhythm
- Muscle tremors or twitching
- Incoordination
- Seizures or fits
- Fever
- In severe cases, coma or death can occur
Which types of chocolate are most dangerous?
- Darker and more bitter chocolates contain higher theobromine levels and are more toxic.
- Toxicity ranking from highest to lowest theobromine content: cocoa beans, cocoa powder, unsweetened baking chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate (which has very little theobromine but can still cause issues due to fat and sugar)
What to do if your dog eats chocolate?
- Contact a veterinarian immediately, even if your dog is not showing symptoms yet
- Treatment may involve inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal to absorb toxins, intravenous fluids, and medications to control heart rate and seizures
- Early and prompt veterinary intervention improves the prognosis significantly
In summary, chocolate ingestion in dogs is a veterinary emergency due to toxic effects of theobromine and caffeine, with symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to severe neurological and cardiac complications. Immediate veterinary care is essential for the best outcome
