2007-04-15 12:31:22 · 36 answers · asked by smallpair 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes; chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. It's also toxic to humans, but we have the ability to break it down and excrete the resulting substances. Dogs do not. In sufficient quantities, theobromine causes nervousness, tremors, accelerated heart rate, high blood pressure, and ultimately death in dogs.
2007-04-15 12:37:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-04-15 12:38:47 · answer #2 · answered by Heather B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I just have to say this, although I do think dogs shouldn't eat chocolate. When I was a kid, we had a miniature schnauzer. There were several years that she got someone's Easter basket when they forgot to put it up high (she was a crafty, smart little thing!), and we always had solid chocolate bunnies -- big ones from a local chocolatier in Pittsburgh. So she had big doses of chocolate a couple times. This dog lived to be almost 18.
2007-04-15 12:41:31 · answer #3 · answered by bibliophile31 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The problem, according to veterinary experts, is that eating a
speck of chocolate leads a dog to crave more. It can mean that
your dog will jump at a opportunity to get any type of chocolate,
not knowing that certain chocolates are more lethal than other types.
Larger amounts of chocolate, particularly of the most
toxic type, can bring about epileptic seizures in some dogs, and
in all dogs, can kill.
Poisoning of dogs by chocolate is not as uncommon as you might
think.
2007-04-15 12:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by Ashley 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it can be depending how big the dog. Had a friend who little dog got into chocolate and ate a lot and died.
2007-04-15 12:44:11 · answer #5 · answered by ruthie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it really really is.. The Theobromine in chocolate is poisonous.. Plus it has alot of sugar, and causes diabetes and rots their little teeth right out of their head!
2007-04-15 12:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! Chocolate is really not good for your dog!
2007-04-15 12:45:19 · answer #7 · answered by Getting Married 9-19-2009 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES. It depends on what size the dog is and how much/what kind it is as to whether it will cause a problem or not.
Read this article to decide if you need to seek veterinary attention if your dog's eaten chocolate:
http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml
Chalice
2007-04-15 12:47:27 · answer #8 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES!!! It makes them go into a coma, and then slowly die, depending on the amount eaten and the size of dog. My dog is small 14 lbs. and ate 1/2 of a brownie, and the emergency vet made us feed him a tiny bit of peroxide, which made him throw it all up immediately.
2007-04-15 14:47:55 · answer #9 · answered by CARGAL 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is in large quantities, however, it depends on the dog, some dogs just a little bit can kill them while others it takes a lot to do damage.
2007-04-15 12:46:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋