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Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs

Beerhound

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I have put this on before but though that I would repeat it for any newcomers since the last time especially with Easter approaching. :thumbsup:

CHOCOLATE POISONING IN DOGS

Unlikely though it may seem, chocolate is hazardous to our canine friends. Sadly, this fact is only bought to light around the festive season or at Easter-time when chocolates are more abundant in the home. In the year 2000, the Veterinary Poison Information Service handled over 50 enquiries concerning dogs that have eaten chocolate or cocoa products. Recently a dog was seriously ill and died as a result of eating a box of chocolates.

Chocolate is derived from the roasted seeds of the Theobroma cacao. Cocoa solids account for 30-70% of chocolate and therefore the quality of the chocolate consumed is important. The toxic component is theobromine that is a substance related to caffeine. The table below gives the approximate theobromine content of different types of chocolate or cocoa-containing products and a calculation of the amounts of each type of product that would need to be consumed by a 10kg dog to cause intoxication. The table shows that good quality dark chocolate contains higher concentrations of theobromine and is more likely to cause poisoning in smaller doses. Therefore, if your dog has a tendency to gorge himself on chocolate when he finds it, and you keep good quality chocolate in the house, please keep it out of reach. Just 60 grams could be a lethal dose for a 10kg dog. If you want to treat your dog buy the specially formulated ‘dog chocolates’ which contain no theobromine, or white chocolate, which is far safer.

What happens to a poisoned dog? Absorption of large quantities of theobromine stimulates the central nervous system and affects the heart and lungs. Absorption is quite slow in dogs, signs of poisoning may be delayed and in some cases for as long as 24 hours. When effects do occur they may persist for 72 hours or longer. Symptoms are vomiting, abdominal pain and excessive thirst, your dog may become unusually restless or excitable and salivate excessively, they may stagger or pass more urine the normal. In some cases fits and rapid breathing develop as well as being incontinent. Muscles may become rigid. An irregular heartbeat can sometimes be detected and the kidneys may no longer work properly.

Various treatments may be needed for poisoned dogs. Any dog that is suspected of eating large amounts of chocolate should be taken immediately to the vet. If ingestion is known to be recent, the vet will try to make the dog sick. ‘Activated charcoal’ may be given to bind the theobromine and prevent absorption. If your dog needs further treatment drug therapy may be required to control fitting and regulate the heart rate. It may also be necessary to cool the dog down and to take steps to reduce the chances of kidney failure.

Other hazardous products are cocoa bean mulches, obtainable from your garden centers for use on flowerbeds; these may contain high concentrations of theobromine and may cause poisoning in dogs. Several fatal poisonings in dogs from ingestion of the cocoa bean mulches have been reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service – in fact more fatal results from consumption of these mulches than from chocolates in the home.

While it seems sad that dogs cannot enjoy a bar of chocolate, it is better to be safe than sorry, so keep the chocolates out of their reach – or better still eat them yourself.

Theobromine content of chocolate and other Cocoa-based products

Product or source Theobromine contentPer gram of product Amount of product thatWould need to be consumedBy a 10kg dog to cause intoxication

White Chocolate 0.009mg 22 kilograms

Drinking chocolate powder 0.5mg 400 grams

Milk chocolate 1,5 – 2.2mg 90 – 134 grams

Plain/Dark chocolate 4.5 – 16mg 2.5 – 45 grams

Cocoa powder 5.3 – 26mg 8 – 38 grams

Cocoa beans 11 – 43mg 5 – 18 grams

Cocoa shell mulches 14 – 30mg 7 – 15 grams
 
and Id like to add this article too I found online (Lets keep it a Happy Easter for all)

Dogs and chocolate
 
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its sad thet people still dont know or wont take it serlously. My sins girlfrnd was round here a few days ago and cholat possioning in dogs was spocken about on the paul ogrady show she she was laghing she thought it was a joke and said they allways give there dog chocolat and thts he has his own chocolat buttons egg for sunday she said hes allways has chocolat he loves it. I have prineted off a facts sheet for her but she wont take it seriuosly she thinks its not seriuos so I have asked her to at least show her mum the sheet.
 

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