Why is it said thata feeding a dog chocolate will kill it?

Answer 1

We've all heard it, "Don't give your dog chocolate it will kill him". We'll how true is it you're probably wondering. Do I have to rush him to an emergency vet if he ate one of my M&M's?

The truth is chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. This is a xanthine compound in the same family of caffeine, and theophylline.

Toxic Levels

The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to cause a toxic reaction. Although there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration.

On average,
Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.
Semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/oz.
Baker's chocolate 390mg/oz.

Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.

So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause great risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.

Clinical Signs

Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. It has a diuretic effect as well. Clinical signs:

Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Increased urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Treatment

There is no specific antidote for this poisoning. And the half life of the toxin is 17.5 hours in dogs. Induce vomiting in the first 1-2 hours if the quantity is unknown. Administering activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin. An anticonvulsant might be indicated if neurological signs are present and needs to be controlled. Oxygen therapy, intravenous medications, and fluids might be needed to protect the heart.

Milk chocolate will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion. This should be treated symptomatically (fluids, etc..) to prevent dehydration.

If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your Vet immediately! They can help you determine the the proper treatment for your pet.

Answer 2

It is a common mistake to generalize from only a few examples. Yes, you are getting away with feeding your dogs chocolate, but that doesn't mean it is safe. Somebody mentioned the internal organs. Often a dog can be eating a poor diet, and there are no symptoms until some of the organs are fatally damaged. There is a long list of things dogs have died from. Chocolate, raisins, grapes, rawhide, socks, etc. I had a Golden eat a couple of heavy wool socks with no problem. I know somebody whose Golden died of eating a sock. I am just not going to take a chance on things that sometimes kill dogs.

Answer 3

Why is Chocolate Lethal?
Chocolate contains theobromine. A naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.

Symptoms of Chocolate Dog Ingestion and Poisoning
You can recognize that your dog has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate from the symptoms. Within the first few hours, the evidence includes vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity. As time passes and there's increased absorption of the toxic substance, you'll see an increase in the dog's heart rate, which can cause arrhythmia, restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting.

This can lead to hyperthermia, muscle tremors, seizures, coma and even death.

Answer 4

Because chocolate can kill a dog. Read up on it, do your own research before feeding chocolate to a dog. The same goes for nuts and grapes...dogs sytems can't handles those foods. If you're going to have a dog, you really should look into their health risks...don't find out the hard way what they can and cannot eat.

Answer 5

Chocolate is not good for dogs (I'm not repeating everything said above)- all vets will tell you this. If you want to give your dog a treat, use little bits of cooked cocktail sausages or chicken. There's no need to give your dog sweet food at all - it's unnatural as far as their diet goes.

If you absolutely must give your dog 'chocolate' give it special dog chocs, which aren't actually made of chocolate.

Answer 6

Chocolate messes with the digestive system of the animal. One brownie could kill a small dog. On easter my dog ate all of my chocolate, and she threw it all up, so she was ok. In case it's digested, take it to the vetenarian if you don't want it to get really sick.

Answer 7

Chocolate and onions are 2 human foods that should never be feed to dogs - they are toxic to dogs and yes, it could kill them

Answer 8

Because it actually might kill them..Dogs don't digest chocolate very well

Answer 9

I GUESS SOME DOGS HAVE DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO IT THAN OTHERS.
I REMEMBER WALIKN' HOME ONE DAY , ME AND MY SIS WE'RE SCOFFING DOWN A SIX PACK OF TWIX.....WE HEAR A MAN SHOUTIN' FROM A DISTANCE " PUT THE CHOCOLATES DOWN!!".......WE TURN AROUND AND SEE THIS MASSIVE DOG COMIN' STRAIGHT AT US.
WE IMMEDIATLY DONE AS WE WERE TOLD AND THREW THE PACKET AWAY FROM US.........WE STOOD THERE STUNNED AS THE DOG STARTED TO RIP N' TEAR THROUGH OUR CHOCLATE!!!

Answer 10

chocolate contains something called theobromine (like caffeine) and ingesting high enough doses of it can cause heart problems and even death
other foods bad for dogs:
macadamia nuts, milk, onions, rasions, grapes, avocados, and food allergies-common foods such as cheese, sausage, tuna, eggs, and tomatoes can cause an allergic reaction to your pet