why can't you feed a dog chocolate?

Question

..for any vets or techs out there..i know i've been told all my life that you just can't feed them chocolate...but i need to know the scientific reason..or if it's just an old wives tale..like swallowing the gum bit..any good answers out there..??

okay well to add to that....our lil puppy ate just a few scraps of chocolate my son had left on the ground i mean we are talking just a few tiny pieces and she seems fine...it's very expensive to take animals to the vet for anything now a days..thanks guys

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Yes, Chocolate is poison to dogs. I lost two to chocolate poisoning. One ate an entire box of See's Candy while we were gone.. went to great lengths to climb up to get it and tore the box open, wrapping paper and all. The other was when my son thought the door to his room was latched, but it wasn't and the dog ate a big bag of m&m's. They thought they could save her, but couldn't.
Seems like it would need to be more than just a little bit. I think it has something to do with the caffeine in the chocolate. Speeds up their heart too fast.
Good luck. Keep an eye on her.

Answer 3

We we told that feeding the dog chocolate can be hard on their digestive tract. Usually, I have found that feeding them chocolate, results in diareah (di-a- re-a) Not good at spelling. There are also quite a number of other things that can hurt a dogs "tummy" grapes, raisins, apples. Look into getting a brochure from the vets, it cost nothing, it will explain what you cannot feed to the dogs and why... Hope this helps.

Answer 4

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.

As you can see, it is not an old wives tale, it is real and it can kill. So don't feed your dog any chocolate.

Answer 5

Chocolate could nicely be scrumptious for canines besides butcan be very risky and each so often mortal. See, a dogs eating chocolate ought to impression his urge for nutrition inflicting another problems, like caries, weight problems and probably mellitus diabetes. too plenty chocolate can produce diarrhea... and somethingkill a dogs. Chocolate is composed of Caffeine derivatives to which canines dogs react nicely. It impacts their heart fee, lungs and nervous structures. There are different extra healthful candies which would be utilized as a reward for the duration of training and different events. uncooked carrots, in small products, are favorite via a huge variety of canines; even a number of them use to dig up interior the backyard to consume them. additionally they like leaven pills, that are additionally a great source of nutrition B. yet continually limit those products, so the dogs won't evaluate them as area of his meal, yet a reward for his solid habit. yuletide - Easter - New 3 hundred and sixty 5 days warning watch for chocolate laying around the homestead. in case you think of your dogs has eaten chocolate, you shouldcontact your Vet right this moment for "what to do suggestion".

Answer 6

It's poisonous to them in large amounts, but that's normally only for small dogs. I raise and breed large dogs (newfoundlands) and they always end up eating chocolate. Nothing has happened.
I also know a few people with small dogs (terriers, etc.) whose dogs ate chocolate and ended up in the emergency vet room.
I don't advise it, but if they get an m&m or two, it's not the end of the world

Answer 7

You can feed your dog anything. The proper answer is SHOULD you feed your dog chocolate and the answer is no. Chocolate can be toxic to cats and dogs alike. It does not digest well in their systems. Ask your vet for more detailed information.
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.

Answer 8

Chocolate can cause a dog to become dehydrated. I was in a vet clinic once and a dog came in that had eaten a whole chocolate bar, and the vet put him on an IV.

Answer 9

Chocolate contains caffeine and a related stimulant called theobromine, which can make your dog seriously ill. Both of these stimulants can raise your dogs heart rate, occasionally to the point of being fatal. Chocolate should be thought of as a poison to dogs.

The effect it has on your dog depends both on its size and the amount of chocolate the dog consumed. The smaller the dog, the less chocolate it needs to eat in order to overdose.

With Baking chocolate, half to one ounce can cause death in small dogs such as Toy Poodles, Yorkies and Chihuahuas. In medium sized dogs, such as Cocker Spaniels and Beagles, the amount is two or three ounces. In large dogs such as the Golden Retriever and Dalmatian the amount is eight ounces.

With milk chocolate, four to ten ounces can cause death in toy dogs, one to one and a half pounds in medium-sized dogs; and two to four and a half pounds in large dogs.

A small amount may not cause death but it can make them very ill. Fortunately, most dogs who overdose on chocolate just get an upset stomach with perhaps vomiting and diarrhea.

Answer 10

Trust me, it is not just an old wives tail...it is toxic to them..We see alot of cases around the holidays.. Some get sicker than others...based on weight of dog,how much they ate,and the kind of chocolate....Please just feed them dog treats..to keep them healthy..