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Every holiday season, veterinarians find an increase in accidental chocolate
poisoning in our canine companions. Many people are still unaware of the danger
chocolate poses for their furry friend even though it is the most commonly
encountered poisoning (based on an evaluation of the reason for calls to the
National Animal Poison Control Center).
The naturally occurring theobromine found in chocolate, cocoa beans,
cocoa bean hulls, cola, and tea, is responsible for the poisoning effect in
dogs. Dogs are unable to metabolize this element quickly enough to prevent
poisoning. The lethal dose of this agent is determined by weight and falls
roughly into the category of 250-500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
This equates to approximately 2/3 to 1 1/3 oz bakers chocolate for every 2.2
pounds though signs of poisoning begin to appear at a much lower ingestion
levels. Please see chart below for breakdown of theobromine levels by chocolate
type.
The first signs of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, increased urination,
lethargy and depression, and muscle tremors. This can progress to cardiac
arrhythmias and seizures leading to death. Though most symptoms will begin to
appear within two hours it can take as long as twenty four hours for symptoms to
appear and up to three days for recovery. As theobromine metabolizes slowly in
dogs symptoms may be slow in appearing- do NOT be fooled into thinking
everything is ok. Early attention and treatment can make the difference in
saving your companion’s life.
If you discover your pet has ingested chocolate DO NOT wait for symptoms
to appear but phone your veterinarian- poisoning is an EMERGENCY.
If discovered within two hours of ingestion vomiting can be induced to
eliminate the poison. If it has been longer than two hours your pet may need
more intensive treatment including a activated charcoal treatment, iv fluids,
and careful monitoring. In addition to contacting your own veterinarian you can
phone the National Animal Poison Information Center at 1-888-252-7387. Though
there is a fee for this consultation, they will provide you with a case number
which your doctor can use to access information on how to help your pet. (It
can be helpful to phone this center while on your way to your veterinarian as a
resource for your doctor).
Dogs have a sweet-tooth but it is our responsibility to keep our canine
companions safe. Never give chocolate as a treat and keep it well out of reach
of interested muzzles. Keep unsweetened chocolate and other chocolate based
baking supplies in tightly closed containers in high cupboards. Be aware of
holiday sweets- box of chocolates under the tree, gold foil coins left on the
floor from a game, etc and keep them safely out of paws way. A tiny bit of
precaution can ensure a safer holiday for the WHOLE family.
THEOBROMINE content per ounce of chocolate (by type):
| MILK CHOCOLATE |
44-66 milligrams per ounce |
| UNSWEETENED BAKING CHOCOLATE
|
450 milligrams per ounce |
| CACAO MEAL |
300-900 milligrams per
ounce |
| CACAO BEANS |
300-1200 milligrams per ounce |
| HOT CHOCOLATE |
13 milligrams per ounce |
Essentially this means that as little as 4.5 ounces of a candy bar (two snack
sized bars) or even 4 ounces of hot chocolate powder can be poisonous to a small
dog! Please call your veterinarian if you suspect that your dog has eaten any
chocolate.
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