Canine chocolate toxicity is such a common occurrence in American pet-owning households that it ranks 5th on ASPCAs Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2017.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center receives more than 100 calls per day from people whose dogs have ingested chocolate, making this one of the most common canine toxicities. Our Smithtown Animal Hospital team...
For instance, a 50-pound dog could become equally sick from eating 8 ounces ( pound) of milk chocolate as they would from 1 ounce of bakers chocolate. This is because the darker chocolate is more toxic, so a smaller amount would still result in toxicity.
Why Cant Dogs Eat Chocolate? Chocolate is toxic to dogs primarily because of the theobromine it contains. It also contains a small amount of caffeine. Dogs struggle to metabolize these compounds leading to chocolate toxicity if consumed in large enough amounts.
Why Is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs? Types of Chocolate and Toxicity Levels.But dogs should never be fed chocolate as a treat. Instead, offer your pet a dog-safe alternative (like a treat featuring carob ), which is just as tasty for canines!
This particular example perfectly highlights why Canine Chocolate Toxicity Hospital is so captivating.
Canine Chocolate Toxicity: Symptoms, Risks, & Emergency Action Plan.Chocolate is poisinous to dogs, primarily due to its theobromine content, a toxic alkaloid found in cacao beans. Theobromine, along with caffeine, falls under the umbrella of substances known as methylxanthines.
Chocolate toxicity can cause increased heart rate, vomiting, seizures, arrhythmias, and even cardiac arrest. Chocolate poses a choking hazard, especially if its in solid chunks or contains fillings like nuts.
1 Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Institute of Veterinary Science, Neston, UK.Keywords: chocolate; dogs; poisoning. Publication types. Research Support, Non-U.S.
