if a dog eats chocolate is there anything you should look out for because it is bad for them?

Answer 1

Large quanties of chocolate, especially dark or bakers, can kill a dog. Small amounts (Like a few pieces, even for a small dog) won't kill them if they eat some by accident.

It really depends on the size of the dog - My lab has wiped out an entire bowl of Haloween candy and the worst that happened was he had the runs for a few days.

Answer 2

Firstly, make sure the dog has plenty of water.
NEVER make the dog vomit!
DON'T PANIC!

Chocolate is poisonous but each dog reacts differently, think of it as similar to a reaction to a bee sting.

Most breeds must consume about a 1/4 of their body-weight to seriously do damage.
If your dog is naturally allergic, a single lick may be harmful.

If your dog eats chocolate then keep water available - keep an eye on them for symptoms of poisoning.
If the dog vomits it is because their body needs something out and doesn't mean it is poisoned. Continuous vomiting however means the animal should be seen by a vet quickly.
The dog may get rid of the offending food by another route :)
in that case be ready with mops and detergent!
Again, continuous diarrhoea should be checked by a vet.
My collie has eaten quite a bit of chocolate in one go and has been none the worse.

Remember **
Make sure the dog has plenty of water!
NEVER make the dog vomit!
DON'T PANIC!

Answer 3

Chocolate has a ingredient in it that speeds the heart up and can in turn give your dog a heart attack.A small amount like a chocolate chip wouldn't hurt,that is unless the dog is a puppy,and then it wouldn't be good since they are so small.Other things to look out for would be vomiting,and loose stool.

Answer 4

A small amount of chocolate is ok as long as you don't have a tiny dog and the chocolate is not bakers chocolate. Chocolate causes dogs to become hyper and have rapid heart beat and nervous problems. Look for signs of hyperactivity and if you notice any call your vet they can tell you what to do to induce vomiting at home.It wouldn't be a bad idea to call your vet anyway, just in case.

Answer 5

the darker the chocolate the worse it is. If the dog ate straight up baking chocolate then call a vet ASAP. If the dog ate milk chocolate, call vet anyway.

Answer 6

I worked at a vet a long time ago, one dog that came in had eaten an entire box of valentine's day chocolate...the BIG kind, and nothing happened to him. But in other cases the dogs became very very very sick. You NEED to contact your vet asap to make sure your dog will be ok

Answer 7

your dog would have to eat 1/3 of it's bodyweight for it to become dangerous. Dark chocolate is much worse than milk chocolate because there is more of the toxic ingredient in dark chocolate than the other chocolates.

If he ate a bit of chocolate, it may give him intestional distress. If he ate alot of chocolate (1/3 or his body weight), you'll need to call the vet.

Answer 8

Chocolate smells tasty and edible to most dogs, but poses a major poisoning risk because it contains theobromine, a substance that is toxic to dogs. It can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. Take your dog to the vet if he/she ate chocolate!!

Answer 9

Chocolate IS toxic to dogs!


HOW many times have you heard someone confess that they love chocolate themselves and sometimes give their dog a few pieces although they have heard that it is not good for dogs and could make them sick?

That is, unfortunately, quite a common occurrence but the truth is that you are not doing your dog any favours as far as health is concerned. Chocolate contains theobromine, a toxicant responsible for causing canine illness. Signs of theobrimine poisoning include vomiting, excessive thirst, diarrhoea, restlessness and agitation.

These signs usually develop in six to eight hours. Kidney damage, seizures, heart rhythm irregularities and death may result, in severe cases. There is no real antidote for a theobromine overdose. Support and care can be given, and vomiting can be induced if the poisoning is recognised early enough. Obviously the best course of action is not to feed your dog chocolate to begin with and to be sure to hide your own chocolate stash so your dog can't help himself!

Luckily this seems to be what usually happens - human owners with a chocoholic habit do not want their dog to find and demolish their stores, so are generally careful about where they keep them. Perhaps the biggest danger could be from visitors or children who may leave chocolate they have brought with them, or been given, in an accessible place, such as on a coffee table.

White chocolate, however, follows different rules. Some dog treats are available dipped in white chocolate. Is this safe?

The answer is yes. Regular dark chocolate is made from cacao beans, the source of high levels of theobromine, a caffeine-like substance. White chocolate, on the other hand, is made from cocoa butter, which is safe for dogs.
The amount of theobromine in powdered cocoa varies, but it can be quite high. Usually, the darker the chocolate the higher the theobromine content. The amount of caffeine in different chocolate products is also extremely variable. For example, unsweetened baking chocolate reputedly has up to 10 times the caffeine of milk chocolate.

This means that as an after-dinner snack or supper treat, white chocolate is less likely to keep you awake half the night than dark chocolate. So what about the chocolate nibbles made especially for dogs - do they contain theobromine? The answer here is no. Manufacturers have formulated them to contain extra vitamins and minerals and to have various added qualities.

They are made especially for dogs, and although they are called choc drops, the name is not accurate - they are made of carob, and are therefore quite safe.

If you eat chocolate yourself you may like to keep a packet of 'chocolate' treats for your dog so that you can give him/her a treat when you succumb to the nibble habit yourself (and it does protect you from that feeling of guilt when your dog tries on the "sad eyes and drooling" look that they all keep in reserve for just such occasions).

However, you must remember that dogs are always healthier without chocolate in any form and even the specially produced treats should be used only on very special occasions - not as a daily substitute for some TLC from you as the dog's owner

Answer 10

If your dog eats chocolate, to take him to the vet depends on how much he ate. If he ate a lot take him to the vet immediately , if he ate some make him gag or throw up or go to the vet, if he only ate a little don;t worry about it. P.S.: at the vet they will make him throw up to get it out of his system.