Chocolate Toxicity

Since the holidays are just around the corner, just a reminder that chocolates are dangerous for our dogs. Cats generally won’t eat chocolate, but many dogs will devour any chocolate in sight, regardless of type or quantity. Chocolate contains stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine that can be toxic to dogs. It also contains large amounts of sugar and fat that can cause GI upset (vomiting or diarrhea) and pancreatitis. There are many different types of chocolate, and each has different levels of stimulants. Baking chocolate has the highest levels. As little as ½ oz can be toxic for a small dog, and 4 to 8 ounces is toxic for a large dog. Dark or semi-sweet chocolate has the next highest concentration of stimulants, and milk chocolate has the lowest amount.
A dog that has eaten a toxic amount of chocolate can demonstrate multiple problems including vomiting or diarrhea, stumbling, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures and coma. Signs generally begin within 1-4 hours of ingestion. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate or you witnessed ingestion, call your veterinarian immediately! The best treatment is to get it out of their system by inducing vomiting. Absorption can be slowed with activated charcoal and the stimulants flushed out of their system with intravenous fluids. Most animals recover well with aggressive therapy.
The key to prevention is keeping chocolate well out of reach of your dog. First, never feed your dog chocolate!!! All chocolate should be locked in cupboards or in sealed containers – do not leave any chocolate out on counters.