Dogs and Chocolate!!!?

Question

Why is it exactly that dogs cannot have chocolate?? My cat eats a little of it and seems fine. What does it do? Or is it just a myth???

Answer 1

It's definitely not a myth. It can kill them.

Chocolate has caffeine and theobromine in it, and the latter is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine and the more toxic. Your dogs weight is also important, the smaller the dog, the more toxic it is to them. Tooth decay and obesity are also big problems of giving your dog chocolate.

Cats are also affected, and I'm too lazy to tell you about it so here's a link:
http://www.petcaretips.net/cat-chocolate-poisoning.html


Some people give their dogs and cats chocolate every once in awhile but that's still not good for them. It may not be enough to kill them, but it will make them fat and their teeth will decay. To be on the safe side, keep chocolate away from pets.

Answer 2

Nope, certainly not a myth, I've seen the affect of chocolate on dogs a few times.

It's the theobromine in chocolate that is toxic to dogs. Not all types of chocolate are dangerous, and often a small amount won't cause a problem - but dogs have varying levels of sensitivity to it, and a small amount can be very problematic - so it's best to just stick to dog chocolate if your dog must have it, this is safe stuff! All this applies to cats too.

Read all about it here:

http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml

Chalice

Answer 3

It is not a myth...but a little will not hurt. There is a compound in chocolate that dog's systems can not break down and is actually considered a poison. It will not cause immediate death and eating two hershey kisses isn't going to kill a dog. The dog must ingest a medium-large amount (depending of the size of the dog) before it is actually lethal.

Answer 4

too much can be toxic. A little won't hurt but it does build up over time. I believe it can cause renal failure in dogs. I've given a little bit, like an M&M to my dog but if she was to eat an entire chocolate bunny I'd be rushing her into the vet.

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.

"Chocolate ingestions are one common reason why pet owners and veterinarians call us," said Dana Farbman, Certified Veterinary Technician and Manager, Client and Professional Relations, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. "However, it would be difficult to verify an exact ranking in frequency of calls, as the types of substances we receive calls on can vary greatly depending on many factors, including the time of year. We generally do experience somewhat of a rise in chocolate calls around holidays, such as Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

Why is Chocolate Lethal?
Chocolate contains theobromine. A naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.

Answer 5

It is the alkalines in the chocolate that make it bad for a dog. Technically it is also "bad" for people but we are lucky and have the right digestive enzyme so we do not get sick.
I have no clue about chocolate and cats....our cats do not get to eat it.
If your dog does it chocolate, he will vomit, have diarhea and could die. If he eats a large quantity then he needs to go to the vet and they will induce vomiting before he digests all of it.

Answer 6

It really can be dangerous....if I remember correctly(i've been retired for 6years now) it's the theobromine that causes the problem and it is found in higher concentration in baking chocolate and dark chocolate. also, each dog may react differently to the ingredient and it depends on the quantity consumed so as a good general rule we are told to keep dogs off chocolate after all they don't need it.

Answer 7

No, it isn't a myth! One of the ingredients in the chocolate is like poison to dogs, it can kill them! I'm not sure about cats though...make sure to ask your vet!

Answer 8

It isn't a myth. Dogs can't have dark chocolate, onions or red grapes. I wouldn't feed them light chocolate either 'cause why take the chance. See the attached.

Answer 9

This is no a myth, It can cause alot of things to a dog. Don't try and feed your dog chocolate. I found a good website for you.
www.dogownersdigest.com/new/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml

I hope this help you out thanks for your question

Answer 10

if a dog eats a lot of it, the dog can die but if its just like a little chocolate chip its fine.