All owners, without exception, know that dogs need to be fed either ready-made industrial dry or wet food, or lean meat, cereals, raw and boiled vegetables and dairy products. But many owners, wanting to please their pet, will treat him with something forbidden like a fatty cutlet, salty chips, smoked sausage or sweet buns and caramels. All of the above are harmful to dogs, but the consequences can be especially sad and even fatal if the animal eats chocolate.
Is it possible to give chocolate to a dog?
It may seem to some that chocolate is poison for dogs due to its high sugar content (for example, milk chocolate contains up to 65% sugar of the total mass, bitter chocolate contains from 10 to 40% sugar). Sugar actually has no benefit for the animal, because it damages the teeth, quickly puts on excess weight, causes digestive problems, and finally, diabetes can develop. But chocolate isn't just bad for dogs because of the sugar.
Tannins found in chocolate are also not very beneficial for a dog’s brain. But their content in the cocoa bean product is not so high.
All products made from cocoa beans contain alkaloids that are dangerous to animal health - theobromine and caffeine.
. And if caffeine, due to its relatively small amount in chocolate, is likely to cause nervous overexcitation in a dog, an increase in blood pressure and pulse, then taking theobromine can lead to much more serious consequences. According to British veterinarians [1], this substance has a detrimental effect on the animal’s nervous system, intestinal function, kidneys and heart.
By the way, theobromine in large quantities can be dangerous for people, but for this you will have to eat too much chocolate in one sitting, a literally unrealistic amount equal to 20-30 kg. But a small dose of theobromine for humans is even useful for improving attention and mood, and this substance also acts as a prophylactic against the formation of blood clots. But if theobromine is excreted from the human body, then it accumulates in the dog’s body, which, if the pet is regularly treated to chocolate, can lead to tragedy
. Chocolate can be especially dangerous for puppies, elderly and weakened dogs, as well as animals with cardiovascular diseases.
Effect of the product on a living organism
The owner must strictly control that the dog does not eat the piece of chocolate. This treat is dangerous for her because it contains theobromine. The molecular structure of the substance coincides with caffeine. Both components act similarly - they inhibit the activity of the neurotransmitter adenosine at brain receptors. Adenosine controls the physiological processes of consciousness, prompting the body to rest. Theobromine activates nerve cells, which leads to an increase in the activity cycle. The substance stimulates the flow of oxygen to the brain and accelerates heart contractions.
The human body absorbs theobromine well and is able to quickly establish its life cycle. And in four-legged pets, the nervous system suffers greatly, since the effect of the substance lasts longer.
Signs of chocolate poisoning
You can accurately understand why dogs should not be given chocolate if you know what symptoms theobromine and caffeine cause in your four-legged friends:
- Vomiting (with or without blood);
- Diarrhea;
- Severe anxiety (an animal may behave unnaturally excited and even aggressive after eating chocolate);
- Frequent breathing, shortness of breath;
- Arrhythmia and/or tachycardia;
- Increased blood pressure;
- Increase in body temperature;
- Frequent urination;
- Problems with coordination;
- Convulsions;
- Coma.
The more chocolate the animal ate, the brighter the symptoms will be and the worse the consequences for the body will be. The first signs of chocolate poisoning may appear at least 3-4 hours after eating a confectionery product with cocoa, maximum – after 24-36 hours.
How to wean and prevent?
Pampering dogs with even a small amount of chocolate is not recommended. They very quickly get used to such a delicacy, and begin to not just beg for it, but demand it.
The danger of this product is not only theobromine, but also sugar, regular consumption of which will inevitably lead to the development of diabetes, and caffeine, which is addictive and addictive.
- For treats, as well as for training, it is better to stick to other permitted and healthy treats: pieces of cheese, apples, carrots, etc.
- Store all chocolate products in inaccessible places; do not leave sweets on the table or in places where you can reach them.
- If the dog is already accustomed to the chocolate treat, try to wean it off by offering an alternative option. For example, special chocolate for dogs, which is sold in pet stores. It contains neither caffeine nor sugar, it is beneficial for digestion and has an attractive taste for the animal.
Chocolate should absolutely not be given to dogs. It not only contains a huge amount of sugar, which has a detrimental effect on the pet’s health, but also contains a substance that is poisonous to the dog’s body. In any quantity it is dangerous, so you need to completely avoid it, even as a rare treat.
And if it was eaten by a dog due to an oversight, be sure to consult a veterinarian in order to avoid serious health problems or the death of your four-legged friend.
How much chocolate is dangerous for dogs?
Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. Either a large portion of this sweet product eaten at one time or small amounts of chocolate that the dog takes regularly can be fatal. According to British veterinarians [1], the dangerous amount of theobromine for animals is 100-150 mg per 1 kg of weight
(for reference: 1 gram of bitter dark chocolate contains from 5.5 to 16 mg of theobromine, and 1 gram of milk chocolate contains approximately 2.4 mg).
For a dog weighing 15 kg, the dangerous amount of theobromine is 1500-2250 mg, which is about 90 grams of dark chocolate with a high alkaloid content or more than 600 grams of milk chocolate
. Of course, no pet can handle this amount of chocolate at one time. But given that theobromine tends to accumulate in a dog’s body, regularly eating even small portions of chocolate can lead to severe poisoning.
What will happen now?
If you stole a little
One piece of chocolate usually does not cause any discomfort to the dog. This is especially true for large individuals. Regarding dwarf breeds and small puppies, you need to consider what type of chocolate was eaten.
A danger to dogs is one of the components contained in cocoa beans -
methylxanthine theobromine , which acts as a poison on the dog's body. Accordingly, the higher the content of cocoa beans in chocolate, the more dangerous it is. The toxic dose of theobromine for dogs is 100 mg per kilogram of body weight.
Here is the data on the dosage of theobromine in different types of chocolate (per 100 g):
- White – 3.5 mg.
- Chocolates – 64 mg.
- Dairy – 205 mg.
- Dark 60% – 493 mg.
- Bitter 70% – 632 mg.
- Bitter 85% – 802 mg.
- Pekarsky – 1365 mg.
As you can see, one chocolate candy or a piece of white chocolate is practically harmless, even for small animals. But a slice of bitter or baking product can cause serious harm to a small organism: at a minimum – indigestion, rash and itching, and at worst – poisoning.
Lots (tiles or more)
The consequences depend on the quality of the chocolate, and of course on the size of the pet itself. For example, a bar of natural bitters may be fatal to an individual weighing less than 15 kg, while a white bar may only cause some allergic symptoms or mild stomach upset.
When a large amount of a dangerous substance is consumed, severe poisoning occurs, which can be fatal.
Lethal dose
Doses of dark chocolate that pose a mortal danger to breeds of different body weights:
- Yorkshire Terriers – 70 gr. and more;
- Pugs – from 100 g;
- Labradors – from 400 g;
- Mastiffs – from 900 gr.
If you realize that the amount consumed has exceeded the dose, urgently take the animal to the veterinary clinic. In practice, complete recovery occurs if the removal of toxins from the body is carried out in the first 12-30 hours. Often, after the development of seizures or disruption of the heart, the animal cannot be saved.
What to do if your dog is poisoned by chocolate
Now let's look at what to do if the dog ate chocolate? First, let’s reassure the owners: if an animal swallows a tiny piece of chocolate just once, then trouble is unlikely to happen. But if a dog has eaten a lot of chocolate, then its owner needs to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian must be informed how long ago the animal ate chocolate, as well as in what quantity. It is worth clarifying what kind of chocolate was swallowed by the dog (the darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content in it).
If no more than 3 hours have passed since the chocolate was eaten, the doctor will probably prescribe a gastric lavage for the dog, as well as taking sorbents to cleanse the body (Vetsorbin, Presorb, Enterosgel, Polysorb, etc.). Plus, you may need to take symptomatic medications (heart medications, anticonvulsants, antipyretics, drugs to lower blood pressure, etc.). Treat chocolate poisoning in dogs only with the medications prescribed by your doctor.
Dog poisoning from chocolate is much better prevented than treated.
. The owner who has chocolate as a treat in his house needs to remember the following:
- As experts from the American Kennel Club advise [2], all products that may contain theobromine should be securely hidden from the dog
. In addition to the usual chocolate bars, you should keep chocolates, cocoa powder, hot chocolate mixture, and chocolate-filled buns away from your pet. All these products should be stored high on cabinet shelves, where the pet has no access. All family members should be aware that an innocent chocolate bar can lead to poisoning; - Some owners worry that their dog might eat something dangerous in their absence. In this case, there is this advice: an animal that is often alone at home should be placed in a special pen, from where it will not be possible to escape
. In a designated area that will be separated for the dog, you need to place a bowl of water, a bed, and also lay out the favorite toys of the four-legged chocolate lover on the floor; - Some owners give dogs chocolate as a reward
. This should not be done, but you can still pamper the animal by purchasing, instead of “human” chocolate, special chocolate for animals, which does not contain sugar, and cocoa replaces carob powder; - If the animal knows simple commands (“Fu,” “No,” “Drop”)
, it will be easier for the owner to force his pet to move away from the coveted bar of chocolate or a plate of chocolate cake.
How does poisoning manifest itself?
Alarming signs of intoxication occur after 12 hours. They appear as follows:
- loose stools, vomiting;
- heat;
- decreased blood pressure;
- increased muscle tone;
- rapid heartbeat;
- dyspnea.
In particularly difficult cases, heart failure and loss of consciousness occur.
The degree of poisoning depends on the amount of treats eaten and the weight of your four-legged friend. Small breeds can die even from a piece of chocolate, but in a large shepherd dog such a dose will only cause mild illness. But, if your dog has eaten a chocolate bar, you need to contact a veterinarian.
