Is Chocalote harmful to dogs?

Answer 1

http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dtoxin.html#Chocolate%20toxicity

We've all heard it, "Don't give your dog chocolate it will kill him". We'll how true is it you're probably wondering. Do I have to rush him to an emergency vet if he ate one of my M&M's?

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.

http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/DOGS/chocolatetoxic.HTM

Answer 2

In large amounts, yes. A few m&m's every couple months won't hurt a larger dog though. It's the caffeine that harms them. Dogs can't take large amounts of it like humans can. Baker's chocolate is the most deadly and white chocolate is the least. The more coco in it, the more dangerous it is to dogs. Be careful around holiday seasons ; ) I know a few vets and that's when they say the rush of chocolate-poisoned dogs comes in.

Answer 3

Yes in some cases it can be deadly. But don't freak if your dog ate a few Hersey kisses or something. I use to work at a emergency vet clinic and people would freak out about a few small pieces of chocolate and rush their dogs in. (not a bad thing at all). Bakers chocolate is the worst for dogs b/c of the high content of sugars and other ingredients in it. I would say to be safe than sorry don't allow your dog any chocolate at all. But if you dog does ingest chocolate and you don't know how much take him/her to the vet. I can cause death and or neurological side effects.

Answer 4

It is one of the most poisonous things to dogs. Taken in large quantities the dog will need to see the vet immediately to get it's stomach pumped. Usually if the dog only eats a little bit it will get away with just an upset stomach. My friend's lab once got into 2 pounds of chocolate covered cherries and got away with just an upset stomach and some vomiting.

Answer 5

yes, but it depends. Baking chocolate is the most dangerous because it isn't mixed with sugar and milk like other chocolates. You definitely shouldn't GIVE your dog chocolate, but if your pooch steals a hershey kiss out of a candy bowl, it's not going to do any damage. My 2 dogs ate an entire bowl full of kisses and andes mints (they managed to escape from their crates when I was at work) and neither even got so much as an upset tummy.

Answer 6

Yes very!!! Please dont give it to your dogs.
Theobromine poisoning or chocolate poisoning is an adverse reaction to the alkaloid theobromine, found in chocolate, tea, cola beverages, and some other foods. Cacao beans contain about 1.2% theobromine by weight, while processed chocolate generally has smaller amounts. The amount found in highly refined chocolate candies (typically 40-60 milligrams per ounce or 1.4 to 2.1 grams per kilogram) is much lower than that of dark chocolate or unsweetened baker's chocolate (over 400 mg/oz or 14 g/kg).

The amount of theobromine found in chocolate is small enough that chocolate can be safely consumed by humans in large quantities, but animals that metabolize theobromine more slowly can easily consume enough chocolate to cause chocolate poisoning. The most common victims of theobromine poisoning are dogs (for which it can be fatal). Cats and especially kittens are yet more sensitive, and many other animals are also susceptible.

The first signs of theobromine poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination. These can progress to cardiac arrhythmias, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, heart attacks, and eventually death.

Theobromine is especially toxic to horses, dogs, parrots, voles, and cats because they are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively. If they are fed chocolate, the theobromine will remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours. Medical treatment involves inducing vomiting within two hours of ingestion, or contacting a veterinarian.

A typical 20 kg dog will normally experience intestinal distress after eating less than 240 g of dark chocolate, but won't necessarily experience bradycardia or tachyarrhythmia unless it eats at least a half a kilogram of milk chocolate. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, approximately 1.3 g of baker's chocolate per kilogram of a dog's body weight (0.02 oz/lb) is sufficient to cause symptoms of toxicity. For example, a typical 25 gram baker's chocolate bar would be enough to bring out symptoms in a 20 kg dog.

Answer 7

Chocolate is very harmful to dogs. It gets them very sick and most of the time chocolate can make dogs die. I would be careful not to give them chocolate at all!

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Yes, chocolate is very harmful to dogs. It's okay if they accidentally eat a little piece, but it can kill them if they eat too much or it will make them very, very sick.

Answer 10

Yes. It can be toxic.

One hershey's kiss isn't going to hurt a dog, but a bagful may. If your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet for further advice.