2007-01-23 07:14:19 · 8 answers · asked by finkron 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Theobromine. Theobromine is a methylxanthine, in the same class of compounds as caffeine and theophylline. All of these methylxanthines occur naturally in many plants found throughout the world including the cocoa, tea and coffee plants. Theobromine is found primarily in cocoa beans, caffeine in coffee and tea, and theophylline in tea.
Since theobromine occurs naturally in cocoa beans, it is present in all chocolate products. The amount of theobromine in the finished product depends on the type of chocolate and the serving size. Milk chocolate contains less theobromine than semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
Unlike caffeine, theobromine does not stimulate the central nervous system. But it can have a mild diuretic action (increases urine production) similar to caffeine.
Dogs metabolize theobromine very slowly. As a result, theobromine can have a serious effect on the animal's heart, kidneys and central nervous system. It carries the same risk as does a dog's consumption of other common household items such as coffee, tea, cola beverages and certain houseplants.
2007-01-23 07:18:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first person that answered your question should be the correct answer. I just had to get in on the processed meat, cold cut and hot dog discussion. These products can be harmful and even fatal to dogs. These products are produced with a lot of chemicals and extremely high levels of salt and preservatives. Some dogs will not have a problem with these products, but you do not want to watch a dog having a seizure and then suffering with kidney failure because of being fed these products.
A good friend of mine had to have her dog put to sleep after suffering seizures and kidney failure because of being fed a spam type product. It was a horrifying experience to watch a beautiful dog suffer in pain, and then watch my friend and her family grieve over the loss of their beloved dog.
Their vet said that it is a low incidence occurrence, he has been a vet for over twenty years and this was the sixth case he had seen. Apparently the toxins from the food additives and salts can build up in the dogs system over a period of time, and then the kidneys will shut down as they can no longer work properly.
Please be careful, all pet owners, there are lots of "people" foods that can be harmful, or even deadly for your pets. Better treats are playtime and exercise and just big hugs.
2007-01-23 09:02:24 · answer #2 · answered by Sue F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person who said milk choco=alive & dark choco=dead, is correct. My friend's Dachsie was at my house & got into chocolate (my mistake - my dogs were being watched - she wasn't watching her dog - LOL.)
Anyway - the little ten pound fellow ate THREE entire Chocolate Milky Way bar Easter bunnies. He was perfectly fine - aside from some very loose stools of course!
If your dog eats a bunch of chocolate chips or brownies - that could be very dangerous. I wouldn't intentionally let any dog have chocolate - but it's not the deadly "dog arsenic" that people seem to think it is.
As to the person who's vet told her that processed meats are toxic to dogs - that's just hooey!! (Or Bologney!)
My dogs get bites of hot dogs all the time for treats & I know A LOT of people who use chopped up bits of hot dog for training treats.
Sorry, every vet is NOT a dietician - just as every human doctor is not one either.
2007-01-23 08:05:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Somebody has already gave a relevant answer to your question..so, I will not bore you with answering again.
I will tell you something I only just found out yesterday though. Did you know that processed meats (bologna, hot dogs, spam...) are toxic to dogs also? The vet told me it is because of what is put in them. I had no idea about that.
Another thing I wasn't aware about until recently is that dogs cannot have grapes. You got to be really careful with this stuff, because I use to give my dog the occasional grape.
2007-01-23 07:29:05 · answer #4 · answered by Led*Zep*Babe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first answer was the correct one. It's the theobromine. However the one that said caffeine wasn't really wrong...it is also harmful to dogs.
2007-01-23 07:30:21 · answer #5 · answered by Stick to Pet Rocks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's bakers chocolate and it's the coco that's toxic.
2007-01-23 07:19:00 · answer #6 · answered by be happier own a pitbull 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just remember this... milk chocolate=alive. dark chocolate=dead.
2007-01-23 07:22:17 · answer #7 · answered by smithssl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
caffeine
2007-01-23 07:24:22 · answer #8 · answered by dorkiedaddy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋