is chocolate really poison for your dog?

Answer 1

Yes but really pure chocolate. Milk chocolate is less harmful and they would have to eat HUGE MASSIVE quanities....but why take the risk. NONE IS GOOD FOR THEM...but you really have to be careful of baking chocolate, that takes less to harm them.

Answer 2

Yes. BUT... baking chocolate is deadly in minute quantites. Chocolate
It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it is the theobromine, a naturally occurring compound found in chocolate. Theobromine causes different reactions to different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs prone to or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the more affected it is by the same amount than a larger dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis. Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity, especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arythmia can precipitate a myocardial infarct which can kill the dog. Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs can cause internal bleeding, which in some cases kills them a day or so later.

Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate. Milk chocolate has 44-66 mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on its weight (and other unknown circumstances). Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight no deaths have been observed.

Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the stomach lining and takes a long time for the liver to filter out. Within two hours of ingestion, try inducing vomiting unless your dog is markedly stimulated, comatose, or has lost the gag reflex. If your dog has eaten a considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the above symptoms, take it to the vet without delay. In the absence of major symptoms, administer activated charcoal. The unabsorbed theobromine will chemically bond to this and be eliminated in the feces. In pinch, burnt (as in thoroughly burnt, crumbling in hand) toast will do.

Answer 3

Yes it is really toxic.
The amount of chocolate that your dog can eat without getting poisoned depends on the weight of the dog and the type of chocolate.

There are a few different types of chocolate. Milk chocolate is not as toxic at the same dose of dark chocolate or baker's chocolate. Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate are the worst your dog can get into. Sometimes, dogs that eat large amounts of milk chocolate won't be poisoned b/c they don't eat toxic amounts of chocolate itself. However, still the eating this type of chocolate can cause some major upset stomachs in dogs or a sickness like pancreatitis which can be really bad for your dog.

Answer 4

My German Shepherd dog ate a whole bag of mini Chocolate bars and I freaked. The Vet said since it was not BAKER's CHOCOLATE and the dog was big (125 lbs) she would probably be okay but to watch her in case she started panting, pacing, throwing up. She didn't.
He said he would be worried if it was a small dog, or Baker's Chocolate. YES, Chocolate is toxic and why feed something toxic to a dog even if they like it?
Over Christmas, a client's Maltese ate eight dark chocolate candies that were on a high table. Must've jumped on a chair to get to it. He died because of it.
The darker, the more dangerous. To a tiny or small breed dog, any amount is potentially lethal.

Answer 5

Like all toxic substances, except perhaps onions (which are really terrible), chocolate has a quantity to size ratio. If your 80 pound Lab stole one chocolate. Don't get into a frantic state over it, just put the chocolate out of his reach. But if your 10 pound Toy Poodle stole a whole box of chocolates, now's the time to call the vet.
One chocolate stolen is cause for concern. A large quantity is cause for the vet.

Answer 6

Yes indeed. The smaller the dog, the less chocolate it has to ingest before you'll notice it getting ill. There are actually quite a few foods that are bad for dogs. I've included a web site with a list.

Answer 7

YES!!! There is a chemical in chocolate called theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs, but not humans. For more information visit the following site.

Answer 8

Yes it is. It's doesn't take much to be toxic to a dog at all - one 125g bar of dairy milk is quite enough to make a small-medium sized dog very sick! I've seen plenty in the surgery at christmas time who've eaten all the little chocolates on the tree and are in a bad way!

Stick to dog chocolate/treats - no point really risking making your dog sick or fat, or both!

Chalice

Answer 9

Anything in excessive amounts is poisonous. Chocolate isn't particularly GOOD for them, but if they get some, it likely won't be a huge deal (of course this depends on size and amount consumed). My dogs have gotten into the Easter candy so many times, I should know. >.> The theobromine found in chocolate is the problem, not only for dogs but for many other animals as well.

"A typical 20-kilogram dog will normally experience great intestinal distress after eating fewer than 240 grams (8.47 oz) of dark chocolate, but will not necessarily experience bradycardia or tachycardia unless it eats at least a half a kilogram (1.1 lbs) of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has 2 to 5 times more theobromine and thus is more dangerous to dogs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, approximately 1.3 grams 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 (0.88 oz) baker's chocolate bar would be enough to bring about symptoms in a 20-kilogram (44 lb) dog. Of course, baking chocolate is rarely consumed directly due to its unpleasant taste, but other dark chocolates' canine toxicities may be extrapolated based on this figure. Large dogs such as St. Bernards or Rottweilers are somewhat less susceptible to poisoning, but as dogs like the taste of chocolate products as much as humans do, they should still be kept out of their reach; treats made from carob are a good substitute and pose no threat. There are reports that mulch made from cacao bean shells is dangerous to pets (and other animals) [29][30][31]" - Wikipedia article

Theobromine levels in different types of chocolate:
MILK CHOCOLATE 44-66 milligrams per ounce
UNSWEETENED BAKING CHOCOLATE 450 milligrams per ounce
CACAO MEAL 300-900 milligrams per ounce
CACAO BEANS 300-1200 milligrams per ounce
HOT CHOCOLATE 13 milligrams per ounce

If your dog consumes an excessive amount, get them to the vet immediately, because in such high amounts, it IS very dangerous to dogs. If there's cause for concern, the dog will often vomit, develop diarrhea, tremors etc.

Because it's slow to digest in dogs, some symptoms may not appear for up to 24 hours, so keep a close eye on your pet.

In an emergency, you can induce vomiting. There is information here on how to do so properly: http://www.doctordog.com/dogbook/dogvomit.html

Answer 10

Yes in large amounts as is must food that humans eat should not be giving to dogs as it will make them overweight and a long list of other health problems be kind to your
4-legged friend dog food or dog treats and I bone every once and a while but beef only chicken bones break in the throat and pork bones can cause diarea and vomiting be kind and he will be with you for a long time