is chocolate deadly to cats and dogs?

Question

As a RN, I had heard of the rumor that cocoa has a toxin deadly to cats and dog, however it depends on the size of the animal, and amount ingested. A final detail that I had heard is that its more toxic to cats, than dogs.

Answer 1

DOGS:
Chocolate made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobtomine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3 hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours.

In a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances the dog keeps repoisoning itself

CATS:
Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can cause the pet's heart rate to increase or it may cause the heart to beat irregularly, both of which can be dangerous to the animal. The level of theobromine present in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet.

There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can contribute to the development of obesity in your cat. A cat can lose its appetite for it's normal food if it eats chocolate. The largest problem is though the fact that chocolate contains the chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical
builds up in the cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their bodies as quickly as people can.

Answer 2

I've heard that too. There's lots of things they shouldnt eay that we do. I suppose they shouldn't really eat a lot of processed food. I think a little chocolate wouldnt worry them but they shouldnt have it all the time or a lot of it. Not sure if it's the cocoa, I thought it was the other checmicals in the choc?

I know some people who gave there dogs coffee and they ended up with a heart condition. Also onion makes them anemic and avocado can makes them ill too.

Maybe chocolate could even make them diabetic. Someone I know gave there dog a whole load of fat off their roast dinner and it got diabetes. It ended up having to have insulen injections and died shortly after. I guess you should just not feed your pets rubbish in the first place.

Answer 3

I haven't researched the biochemistry of this, but I was told dark chocolate has something in it that causes dogs' kidneys to shut down when I asked at the vet. I had been of the opinion this was an old "grade-school teachers tale" that got started somewhere and rumoured its way through society. My dog loves chocolate, but I only give her a little and make sure it's milk chocolate. That's why I asked the vet. Never had a cat that would eat chocolate, but now I'm curious. I consider cats to be like the canary in the coal mine with food. They seem to be highly discerning and don't eat what is bad for them. This dog I have is also very smart, and would never drink beer back in the day when I did. So I figured she knew what she was doing with chocolate. Now I'm much more careful.
BTW, I just read Zing-Zangs answer, and think it is the best I see so far, if you see this Zing-Zang, would you be willing to add a little more and explain what that toxic reaction is for us? Thanks for the toxicity for weight break-down, that helps a lot. Wow, great answers keep coming in, but I'm not the asker, and can't keep editing. Ooops for my opinions, (this is a great learning process isn't it?)

Answer 4

yes chocolate is very very very bad for cats and dogs@@!!! there are some treats and dog cookies out there with chocolate but its a good chocolate it doesnt have the stuff that is bad for the animals. it does depond on size and i think its more toxic for cats because they are smaller and have a more sensitve digestive system..

Answer 5

Chocolate is more toxic to dogs then cats is how i have seen it because my cat got into a chocolate chip cookie and he just had diahreaa for a while but my mom's dog got into some chocolate and she almost died she was so sick.

Answer 6

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.

the theobromine is a diuretic and a cardiac stimulant. it is just as deadly to cats and it is to dogs.

there is no antidote.

Answer 7

I know that its not good to feed your cats & dogs chocolate
and that it depends on the size of the cat or dog
i think its one block of chocolate to a german shepard [not sure]
and there are also doggie chocolate available from pet stores that is completely harm free to your pets.

Answer 8

Cats and Dogs do die from eating human chocolate. Do not give it to them. Why do you think there are Doggy and Kitty choc-drops which taste vile to us???

The sugar affects their metabolism adversely in a big way and you are simply asking for trouble if you give it - and it ill be your fault. They will eat it because they don't know not to.

Answer 9

Actually it's the other way around. It is toxic to both species and dogs will usually eat it in great quantities and it can kill them. Cats won't usually eat enough of it to poison them as severely.

Answer 10

Yes because my friend had a golden retriver and it died because her sister accidentaly fed it chocolate. I might not only because of that, but it was also old, so chocolate is probably deadly.