Is it true that Chocolate gives dogs liver damage? -- Why is that?

Question

What content does Chocolate have that hurts dogs?

Answer 1

chocolate is poisonous to dogs in large quantities. However it can cause other side effects like diarrea in small quantaties.. which is enough of a side effect to keep chocolate far far away from any dog I'm around. This is true for most animals. I know its incredibly toxic for hamsters.

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 2

Why is Chocolate Lethal?
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.

How Much Chocolate Is Deadly?
If a 50-pound dog eats a teaspoonful of milk chocolate, it's not going to cause serious problems. However, if that same dog gorges himself on a two-layer chocolate cake, his stomach will feel more than upset and soon it's likely he'll be vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.

To answer the question "How much is too much" is not simple. The health and age of your dog must be considered. Obviously if your dog is aged and not in top shape, his reaction to a plate of chocolate is going to be different from a young healthy dog of the same weight.

Another fact that must be considered is this: Not all chocolate is the same. Some has a small amount of theobromine; another type has a large amount and still another contains an amount that is somewhere in between. The quantity has a relationship with the weight of your dog. Small dogs can be poisoned, it is easy to understand, from smaller amounts of theobromine than large dogs.

Which chocolate is the safest, relatively speaking? White chocolate. It has the least amount of theobromine: 1 mg per ounce. Far on the other side of the spectrum is baking chocolate, which has a huge 450 mg of theobromine per ounce!

Here are a few other chocolates for you to ponder: hot chocolate, 12 mg of theobromine per ounce; milk chocolate, 60 mg/oz; and up there near baking chocolate: semi-sweet chocolate with 260 mg/oz.

Answer 3

Liver Damage In Dogs

Answer 4

Liver Toxicity In Dogs

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is it true that Chocolate gives dogs liver damage? -- Why is that?
What content does Chocolate have that hurts dogs?

Answer 6

Theobromine is the content in chocolate that dogs are unable to metabolize. It's a chemical stimulant related to caffeine. I tried to find information about it affecting the liver but couldn't. Most of the articles said that, unmetabolized, it remains in the blood stream for as long as 20 hours, affecting the digestive system in small quantities (causing vomiting and diarrhea) and the nervous system in larger quantities (causing increased heart rate, erratic behavior, seizures, and eventually cardiac arrest.)

Answer 7

It is the cocoa in the chocolate that can kill a small dog it is uaual the dark chocolate that does the damage to the dog. If the dog only gets a small peice of cholocate. just watch him or her to make sure that there is no problem. If the dog acts sick take it to the Vet.

Answer 8

Chocolate is definately lethal to dogs and it is best to avoid giving it to them in any amounts at all, as even if it is not fatal it can cause them to be very ill.

If you are looking for a similar treat etc. for your dog try specially made dog chocolate, this does not have the chemical in it that harms dogs.

Answer 9

Chocolate kills dogs because chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. Dogs metabolize theobromine differently than humans.Theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity in the dog especially if the dog becomes excited.

Answer 10

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