is it true that chocolate is toxic for dogs?

Answer 1

READ ON AND I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!



it is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the theobromine, a naturally occuring compound found in chocolate. Theobromine causes different reactions to different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the more affected it is by the same amount than a larger dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.

Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarct which can kill the dog.

Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal bleeding which in some cases kills them a day or so later.

Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate. milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on its weight (and other unknown circumstances). Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight no deaths have been observed.

Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time for the body to filter out. Because theobromine is eliminated through the liver rather than through the kidneys, it takes a long time to eliminate it.

Answer 2

Yes, sort of, There is a chemical in chocolate, not the cocoa bean itself, a chemical used to process chocolate that can affect a dogs heart.
I have A German shepherd who has eaten an entire box of Valentine Candy, and had a Collie who ate the Halloween candy along with the kids in their room when I was not looking.
The German Shepherd is 3 years old and healthy as a horse, and the Collie died at age 13 after a healthy long life!
I truly believe if either dog had been a SMALL BREED DOG that their bad habits would have killed them.
The size of the dog and the amount of chocolate plays into the effect it has on the animal.

Answer 3

Yes!!!!!!
It is extremely toxic. My dog got in to 5 lbs of milk chocolate and had to be hospitalized for 2 weeks and my other dog just got in to a little chocolate coin, he eat like 3, and was also hospitalized. So i would never give my dog any amount of chocolate. By the way both of the dogs where labs and big scavengers.

Answer 4

Yes it is true. Chocolate contains theobromine, a toxicant responsible for causing canine illness. Signs of theobrimine poisoning include vomiting, excessive thirst, diarrhea, restlessness and agitation.

These signs usually develop in six to eight hours. Kidney damage, seizures, heart rhythm irregularities and death may result, in severe cases. There is no real antidote for a theobromine overdose. Support and care can be given, and vomiting can be induced if the poisoning is recognised early enough. Obviously the best course of action is not to feed your dog chocolate to begin with and to be sure to hide your own chocolate stash so your dog can't help himself!

Answer 5

chocolate is only toxic to dogs if given alot . Small amounts once in a GREAT while does not hurt unless the dog has allergys to chocolate.

Answer 6

Yes...it can kill them.

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 7

Yes, chocolate is very toxic to dogs. As little as 8 oz can kill a medium sized dog.

Answer 8

Yes.
However the bigger the dog the more chocolate it takes to hurt it.
Garlic is also toxic to dogs.

Answer 9

Everything I've heard is yes. Dogs should never have chocolate... However, I know a Chesapeake Bay Spaniel who ate a whole bag of Hershey's Kisses, foil and all, and was totally fine. My husbands dogs, a Pekingese and a Jack Russell Terrier ear brownies and do fine. Maybe certain dogs are just more tolerant.

Answer 10

It is partially true. Is it good for your dog? No. If you accidentally drop a Hershey's kiss, and Fido eats it, is he going to immediately fall out and die? No. The problem with chocolate is that dog's are lactose intolerant. You should never give your pet chocolate or anything that would upset their stomach that are milk based, table scraps of any kind are bad!