I can't believe how many idiots there are leaving chocolate where their dog can get it!!?

Question

I've been seeing question after question about this same thing. What is wrong with these people?!!! They shouldn't be allowed to own pets if they can't take care of them.

Answer 1

AMEN!! Many dog owners don't know that simple household products/items that are safe for us, are poisonous to dogs. It's a shame they don't do their HOMEWORK on pet ownership first. Sure accidents do happen, but thanks to the internet, research and information are at our finger tips, fewers accidents should. Whenever I place a puppy into a new home I give them a brochure that lists a number of dangerous household products, any responsible breeder, shelter, rescue should provide. I also refer them to this link: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1661&articleid=1030

Answer 2

Until you learn about something, you just don't know. My sister is an excellent pet owner, she loves animals and takes great care of them. She, unfortunately, got her son a chocolate bunny for Easter. The dog got a hold of it on a pure accident and then ended up dying a few weeks later while she was on vacation. It was so sad and heartbreaking. It was just an accident, and when people read this it makes them feel even worse than they already do. It may even make them feel like they shouldn't get a new pet. Then another pet ends up dying in the pound. At least people are trying to take good care of these animals, and if an accident happens, they learn from it. The pet is better of dying from an accident then being killed because it is unwanted.

Please know that all people make mistakes, and all we can do is learn from them. Understanding and empathy is what people need, not scorn.

Answer 3

lol And all the questions of "I have a Chiwawawawa and shes going to have a million puppies and I want to sell them and make lots of money". Or "I'm going to breed my JRT and my Poodle and make JRPTLS and call it a new breed that I want AKC to recognize". Grrrr people piss me off. I don't mind questions, even stupid ones, but this is total BS. We have 5-6 million dogs euthanized every year because there are no homes so let's make MORE. It's not rocket science is it?! I need a drink........
Edit: I'm sorry to change the subject. Didn't mean to hijack your thread. Chocolate is obviously bad for dogs, and we've been over it a hundred times just like you said. Why people don't know yet is totally beyond me.

Answer 4

It depends where you leave the choclolate. Dogs have a good sense of smell. YES even cats think they are human. Our cat gets into everything including choclolate which we no longer leave lyingaround because we know it is not healthy for cats.

Answer 5

You do realize that accidents do happen, right?

Are you so perfect that accidents never happen to you? If so, then you must not be Human since all Humans make mistakes!

Answer 6

If they think they're smart enough to to own a dog and do that, I think they're wrong

Answer 7

can't they get seriously sick from chocolate or even die i didn't even know dogs like chocolate i put it by my dog's nose and she automatically turned away

Answer 8

you are so right these days it is advertised a lot do not give your pets chocolate(even small amounts) some people even still feed their dogs chocolate"because they like it) when you get a pet read up on it's care please
Chocolate is Toxic
Six ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog.
The worst a Hershey bar can do to you is add an inch to your hips. But that same candy – even in relatively small amounts – can make a dog or cat very sick. Make no mistake: For them, chocolate is poison.
In addition to a high fat content, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that affect the central nervous system and the heart muscle, as well as increasing the frequency of urination.
Symptoms of Poisoning
If your 50-pound dog gets his paws on a single chocolate-chip cookie, it probably won't cause him serious problems. However, if he gobbles up more – a pan of brownies, say – he may develop vomiting or diarrhea.
Once toxic levels are reached, the stimulants kick in, and this is when you really have to worry. Symptoms include: restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and/or excessive panting. If your pet isn't treated, he could go into a seizure – possibly even die.
How Much Is Toxic?
The amount of chocolate that it takes to poison your pet depends on the type of chocolate he's eaten and his weight. White chocolate has the least amount of stimulants and baking chocolate or cocoa beans have the highest. Here is a list of the most common sources of chocolate and the amount that leads to toxicity:
White Chocolate. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 45 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe toxicity occurs when 90 ounces per pound of body weight in ingested. This means that a 20-pound dog would need to ingest at least 55 pounds of white chocolate to cause nervous system signs. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 27 pounds. Yes, that is twenty seven pounds! White chocolate has very little real chocolate in it. Therefore, the levels of caffeine and theobromine are very low. Tremendous amounts of white chocolate need to be ingested in order to cause toxic signs from chocolate. It is highly unlikely that white chocolate ingestion will result in the toxic neurologic signs but, the severe gastrointestinal effects from a high fat food develop with much less white chocolate ingestion.
Milk Chocolate. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 2 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that a little less than one pound of milk chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 1/2 pound.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 1/3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 1 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that as little as 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 3 ounces.
Baking Chocolate. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.1 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 0.3 ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Two small one-ounce squares of baking chocolate can be toxic to a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 1 ounce of baking chocolate. This type of chocolate has the highest concentration of caffeine and theobromine and very little needs to be ingested before signs of illness become apparent.
Even if your pet doesn't eat enough chocolate to induce toxicity, the candy's high fat content may cause him to vomit or have diarrhea at much smaller amounts than those shown. If that happens, watch him carefully. If his symptoms don't clear up within eight hours, call your veterinarian (if your pet is very small or young, call within four hours); aside from toxicity issues, you don't want the animal to dehydrate. Try to be as precise as you can about the type of chocolate the animal ate, how much he took and approximately when he ate it.
The sooner you get help, the better off your pet will be. If the animal is showing signs of toxicity, he has a good prognosis if he's treated within four to six hours of ingestion. The effects of the chocolate can linger for 12 to 36 hours, though, so your pet may require hospitalization.