Help. My dog just ingested two dozen choc. covered cherries. Should I call the vet? Is chocolate toxic?

Answer 1

Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.)

Theobromine's effect on the body:

Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant
Cardiovascular stimulant
Increase blood pressure (mild)
Nausea and vomiting
Are some chocolates more toxic than others?
Yes. Unsweetened (baker's) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely. Caffeine is present in chocolate, but less than Theobromine.

Quick Guide for Theobromine levels in different types of chocolate:
From The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed

Unsweetened (Baker's) chocolate = 390-450 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
Milk chocolate = 44-60 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
Semi-sweet is a bit less than half of the Theobromine content as Baker's chocolate.
How much is too much?
The toxic dose of Theobromine (and caffeine) for pets is 100-200mg/kg. (1 kiliogram = 2.2 pounds). However, various reports by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) have noted problems at doses much lower than this - i.e. 20mg/kg.

Translated to a "typical" scenario, and using the 20mg/kg as a measure of "problems can be seen at this level of ingestion", a 50 pound dog would have to consume 9 ounces (+/-) of milk chocolate to consume the 20mg/kg amount of Theobromine. Some dogs won't see problems at this rate. Some may.

This is a much more conservative toxic level calculation than the "standard" of 100-200mg/kg, but better safe than sorry. A dog sneaking a couple M&M's shouldn't have a problem, but it isn't a good habit to get into!

What are the signs of toxicity?
Signs are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion.

Excitement / nervousness / trembling
Vomiting / diarrhea
Excessive thirst / sometimes excessive urination (at higher levels of Theobromine toxicity)
Muscle spasms
Seizures
Coma (rare
Death (rare) -- likely due to heart rhythm abnormalities.
How is chocolate toxicity treated?
If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate (more than the stray chocolate chip that fell on the floor), call your veterinarian for advice. The toxicity of Theobromine is dose dependent. This means that the size of your pet, the type of chocolate, and quantity of chocolate determine if or how toxic it is for your pet.

There is no specific antidote for Theobromine toxicity. Medical treatmentis supportive, and may include all or some of the following:

IV fluids - to prevent dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, and /or increased urination, and to "flush" the Theobromine out of the system.
Emetics - medications that induce vomiting. Used when the ingestion of chocolate is within 4 hours. Up to 6-8 hours post chocolate ingestion may be effective.
Activated charcoal - for ingestion greater than 4 hours prior to treatment, or for patients that show continued signs of toxicity.
Anti-seizure medications - for patients having seizures and/or muscle tremors.
Cardiac medications - for patients exhibiting irregular heart rates or rhythms

Answer 2

I had 2 dogs that, between the two of them, ate 2 boxes of Cherry Cordials. One puked a small bit, but other than that, they were fine and never needed a vet visit. They were both small/medium (25-30lbs) dogs.
Now, I'm assuming 2 dozen, is about the amount that's in 2 boxes. But this being ingested by just one dog (size unknown), I would contact a vet, and ask them for their opinion. They will know whether or not you need to bring the dog in. They can help you determine the the proper treatment for your pet.

Answer 3

Why are you on a non-vet public internet website rather than calling an emergency vet in your area? Are you going to wait 2 hours to see what answerers respond? Call your vet ASAP. You'll need to estimate how much chocolate was actually ingested and how much your dog weighs. Don't forget to mention that it was cherries as the pits are also dangerous. Again, CALL YOUR VET!

Answer 4

If the dog is a smaller breed I would get to a vet as soon as possible. If the dog is a larger breed I would just monitor them and if you see any changes I would take them to a vet. My dog at a bag of M & M's one time and She was fine though. She is a Labrador Retriever. Since chocolate is toxic, I would take extreme caution if the dog is young or small breed.

Answer 5

Chocolate isn't good for dogs, and has been known to poison them in great amounts. Bakers' chocolate - the bitter kind - is the worst.

I had a dog eat an entire - large - pan of fudge brownies. I called the vet, and she advised me to pour a quarter of a cup down the dogs' throat. Do it outside as it causes immediate vomiting. Call your vet, first, though as the amount varies by size and weight, and perhaps they have a better, less traumatic, method.

(A dozen chocolate covered cherries shouldn't be enough to poison the dog, but - still - call the vet......)

Answer 6

Chocolate can be very bad for dogs. Hopefully what your dog ate was mostly cherries with not to much chocolate but if it were my dog I would call the vet.

Answer 7

RRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! My dog did that and he almost died if we didn't go to the vet. If you havent gone to the vets go NOW! It is usually poisonous and anyway, even if the chocolate didn't do anything to him, he might be feeling pretty sick from the cherries because they are usually covered in a glaze that would make ANYBODY sick if you ate the whole box . Why are you still reading? You're supposed to be at the vets!!!!

Answer 8

Get as much Hydrogen Peroxide as you can down him A.S.A.P.Chocolate is deadly in certain proportions when it comes to dogs.Don't take any chances.Use a syringe of some kind even if you have to use a turkey baster.This will make him throw it all up.Yes Peroxide like you clean wounds with you can get it at Walmart ,maybe you have e some around the house.If not call the vet now!!!!.Also Epicat will make them throw up. Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

Hi!, This is not what I wrote. I got it from a site.


::
If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate,
Please contact your veterinarian immediately


Chocolate contains theobromine (a compound similar to caffeine) which is poisonous to dogs. A dose of 50 mg/lb can be fatal to a dog. Milk chocolate contains 45 mg of theobromine per ounce and unsweetened baking chocolate contains 400 mg per ounce.

Just one ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate can kill a small breed dog. Theobromine when ingested by dogs causes release of epinephrine (adrenaline) which causes the heart to race and serious cardiac arrhythmias to develop.

Signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, hyperactivity followed by depression and coma, seizures, and death.

Emergency care for a dog ingesting chocolate includes inducing vomiting and administration of charcoal to reduce absorption of the chocolate remaining in the stomach and intestines. Drugs to stabilize the heart are needed as well as intravenous fluids and drugs to prevent shock. Mortality is high and care for these cases is intensive and expensive.

Owners should be prudent to prevent dogs from finding and consuming chocolate. Theobromine is also present in cocoa beans, cola, and tea.

If you suspect your dog has ingested chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately. With their instruction you may be able to induce vomiting greatly increasing the odds of your pet surviving. Time is of the essence in these cases - seek emergency care immediately if chocolate has been consumed. Keep chocolate and other products containing theobromine out of reach from your dogs.

Be sure to instruct children and visitors to not feed you dog chocolate as a "treat".



I hope this helps a lot.

Answer 10

Contact the vet, dogs are not supposed to have chocolate/candies