why do dogs die when they eat chocolate?

Answer 1

Chocolate has a chemical in it that is toxic to dogs.

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.

* White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to cause signs of poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds for a 10-pound dog.
* Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of body weight. Approximately one pound of milk chocolate is poisonous to a 20-pound dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog. The average chocolate bar contains 2 to 3 ounces of milk chocolate. It would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10 pound dog. Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic level.
* Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight. One-third of a pound of sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog; 1/6 pound for a 10-pound dog.
* Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound body weight. Two one-ounce squares of bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.

http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is a naturally occurring stimulant that effects a dog's heart and central nervous system. In large quantities, theobromine can cause a dog to have seizures, drop into a coma, or die. Even in low amounts, theobromine can cause vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity.

Different kinds of chocolate have different amounts of theobromine. White chocolate, for example, only has 1 mg of theobromine per ounce while baking chocolate (the most deadly) has 450 mg per ounce. It is also poisonous for cats.

Theobromine is the same substance that causes chocolate to lift the mood in most people. It isn't poisonous for us, however, because our bodies metabolize it faster than dogs and cats can.

Answer 4

The amount of chocolate that will harm your dog will vary depending on the size, age, health of your dog. My 85 pound Pitbull scarfed down a bunch of holdiay chocolate the only thing it gave her was the poops.

But for the answer on why it is poisonous, there is something in chocolate called theobromine. This is a is a stimulant found in the coca plant. This will effect the dogs heart rate. Thats why it effects smaller, older and unheathy dogs more.

Answer 5

They say chocolate is toxic to dogs but they must eat ALOT to die. At the vet I used to work for, a lab ate 2 bags of hershey kisses with the wrappers and was fine. However, if a dog ingests that much chocolate, the vet will advise you to give the dog a certain medication to make him vomit as a precaution.

Answer 6

chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. This is a xanthine compound in the same family of caffeine, and theophylline. Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves.

Answer 7

The theobromine in the chocolate affects their nervous and cardiovascular system. It takes large doses to be fatal, and there are treatments like inducing vomiting and charcoal if you catch it quickly.

Answer 8

because chocolate contained certain substance that cannot be digested in their stomach. cats too can die when they eat chocolate.

Answer 9

They dont die thats a myth its just that milk is hard for them to digest because they do not have the correct enzymes for it they just get a bit of a stomachach and eat grass.

Answer 10

They dont die from the chocolate - they will become unwell i.e. upset stomach etc. & with repeated consumption it can lead to bigger medical problems. This is because they are allergic to dairy products because they are lactose intolerant.