is chocolate really dangerous to dogs????or is it an urban myth???

Question

my dog once ate nearly half a bag of m&ms and she is just a tiny toy poodle. we were really worried about her but nothing ever happened to ever thank god..and if chocolate really is dangerous to dogs what does it do to them that makes it so bad?????

Answer 1

In sufficient amounts, the theobromine found in chocolate is toxic to animals such as horses, dogs, parrots, small rodents, and cats (kittens especially) because they are unable to metabolise the chemical effectively. If they are fed chocolate, the theobromine will remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours, and these animals may experience epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death. Medical treatment involves inducing vomiting within two hours of ingestion, or contacting a veterinarian.

Answer 2

Chocolate is dangerous for dogs. However, it is the darker chocolate that is the most dangerous. Even a bag of semi-sweet morsels for baking can kill a dog and pure chocolate or very dark chocolate can be lethal. Milk chocolate has been diluted with milk so is not nearly as much of a concern but it's better not to feed dogs chocolate at all. Besides, I don't like to share my M & Ms. :-)

Answer 3

Why chocolate poisons dogs and how to treat chocolate dog
poisoning


While the pathetic begging look that goes across the face of a
dog wanting chocolate can weaken the most stoic dog owner, stay firm.

Do not give in. Ever.

Once dogs have tasted chocolate, they want more.

And for dogs, that's a bad thing.


You might disagree, thinking back to a time when you noticed a
dog enjoying a tidbit of chocolate with no deleterious effect.

Don't be fooled.

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.

Answer 4

No, it's not a urban myth. Some dogs don't have a problem at all like your dog. Another dog could have eaten that and died you just never know until something like that happens. So it's best to be careful. I know of a dog that ate 7 raisins and it killed him. He was a Lab. So Chocolate, Raisins & Grapes are a BIG FAT NO! It's best to be safe rather than sorry. So just thank your lucky stars your dog was fine. All the best;~)

Answer 5

The Baker's chocolate is the most dangerous to a dog. If they consume too much of it it raises their heart rate causing a heart attack. Its like "speed" for dogs. Regular chocolate can still kill a dog but it takes a lot more for it to happen. My Cocker once ate a half a bag of hershey's kisses and she ran around the house at high speed like crazy. We called the vet and they said to watch her and to get her to calm down.

Answer 6

It's as poisonous to humans as to dogs...
IT IS POISONOUS TO HUMANS. (That's why some people blush when eating strong dark chocolate, babies shouldn't have chocolate, honey or peanuts, and anyone can get sick from eating to much)

We just develope a partial immunity. A dog might not have that. They also have an extremely short digestive track. LIKE 1/4 of ours. So it hits their system a lot faster. Often dogs don't die, but they get a case of the runs.

Dogs that eat a lot of people food, tend to do okay. Some dogs do die though, but sitcoms exaggerate this point.

Hehe I thought I spelled Poisonous wrong...poisoness, what the frkhll was I thinking.

Answer 7

Yes. They can go into sugar shock. It would be like a person that is not diabetic taking a shot of insulin. Try to keep all sweets up and away from dogs. They are like kids...They love sweets, especially chocolate. Also, check out animal websites that advise why you shouldn't let you dog(s) have chocolate. I have seen a dog go into seizures from getting into chocolate. If that happens, try to get some coke cola in them to naturalize the sugar.

Answer 8

Yes it is dangerous. It can actually poison your dog. According to Dogowners digest, "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.
Check out more about this at:
http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml

Answer 9

I asked my vet about that once and she said that chocolate is dangerous to dogs, but only in a huge quantity. A dog would have to eat like a 10 lb. box of chocolate candy. Also, milk chocolate isn't that bad for your dog. It's Bakers Chocolate that can kill them.

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

Answer 10

Some dogs are 'highly allergic' to chocolate and it KILLS them, which is why people are told not to give ANY chocolate to dogs ... they don't really need all that 'sweet stuff' ... but I accused my kids of 'stealing the brownies' I'd set out, covered, because we had company coming ... until I SAW both of my dogs getting behind the table and 'lifting' the cover to steal them. I apologized to my kids, and moved the brownies ... both dogs were FINE, but I really didn't have that many ... and the 'dog treats' were in the plate NEXT to those brownies.