Dog ate chocolate but seems fine: My Dog Ate Chocolate But Seems OK: What Do I Do?
My Dog Ate Chocolate But Seems OK: What Do I Do?
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Your dog just discovered (and devoured) your secret chocolate stash. You’ve heard time and again chocolate is harmful — even poisonous — to dogs. Now you’re worried as you stare down at your pup. One recurring thought races through your mind: “My dog ate chocolate. What now?”
>> Searching for a dog sitter? Find one in your area now.
Why is chocolate dangerous?
It’s no myth that chocolate can be harmful to your faithful friend. “Chocolate contains two substances that are toxic to dogs: caffeine and theobromine,” says Dr. Ed Blach, chief medical officer and co-founder of Vet24seven. He explains that because caffeine is a stimulant, when your dog ingests it, his heart could race or he could have a seizure. Theobromine, an alkaloid present in cocoa beans, acts as a diuretic, stimulant and even a relaxant for people, but it’s highly toxic to dogs.
What are the common symptoms?
You might have caught your dog in the act or you might deduce she was a chocolate bandit by the crumbs she left all over the floor. But there are other ways to tell whether your pooch ate chocolate. Some dogs show symptoms — Dr. Blach says to watch for extreme thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, agitation, hyperactive behavior, excessive panting, pacing and seizures.
Is a trip to the vet always necessary?
If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet right away. “Describe the amount of chocolate, the type of chocolate, and the timing,” says Dr. Denise Petryk, the director of veterinary services at Trupanion. Your vet can then tell you what to do. “If your veterinarian confirms chocolate toxicity, they will most likely induce vomiting or administer activated charcoal,” says Dr.
Blach. Those methods will get the toxins out of your dog.
What if my dog ate chocolate but seems fine?
Some dogs can eat chocolate and then appear perfectly fine. “If a dog ingests chocolate and does not show clinical signs, it’s simply because they did not ingest an amount of methlyzanthines [the active ingredients in caffeine] high enough to cross the toxic threshold,” says Dr. Chad Harris, chief of staff at North Austin Animal Hospital. But keep in mind that all chocolate is harmful to dogs, and you should check with your vet regardless of how your dog acts. The more chocolate your dog eats, the more likely he will need treatment.
Does the type of chocolate matter?
There’s chocolate and then there’s chocolate, meaning that “different kinds of chocolates contain varying degrees of theobromine,” says Dr. Blach. The rule of thumb, he says, is the darker the chocolate, the greater the danger. White chocolate and milk chocolate, for example, contain less theobromine compared with dark chocolate.
Baking chocolate has quite a bit of theobromine and cocoa powder has the most of all.
Does the size of my dog matter?
The size of your dog plays a role in whether your dog shows symptoms. “A small amount of milk chocolate candies will typically not harm your Great Dane,” says Dr. Petryk. But if your Yorkie ate that rich, dark chocolate bar you were saving for after dinner, or if your beagle lapped up all the cocoa powder you spilled on the floor during your cupcake baking session, your dog could suffer some serious problems.
“Chocolate toxicity is determined by the weight of the dog and how much chocolate was ingested,” says Dr. Harris. It’s always a good idea to check with your vet after a doggy chocolate episode.
Now instead of panicking and helplessly thinking “My dog ate chocolate!” you know what to do. Because most dogs will eat anything, help yours stay safe (and your stash stocked) by keeping your chocolates out of reach and have a pet sitter stop by to ward off destruction in your absence and catch any harmful behaviors sooner.
By freelance writer Laura Agadoni
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
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My Dog Ate Chocolate but Seems OK: What Do I Do?
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Even a little chocolate can harm a dog. Find out what to do even if your dog doesn’t seem sick from chocolate.
Your dog just discovered (and devoured) your secret chocolate stash. You’ve heard time and again chocolate is harmful — even poisonous — to dogs. Now you’re worried as you stare down at your pup.
One recurring thought races through your mind: “My dog ate chocolate. What now?”
Searching for a dog sitter? Find one in your area now.
- Why is chocolate dangerous?
It’s no myth that chocolate can be harmful to your faithful friend. “Chocolate contains two substances that are toxic to dogs: caffeine and theobromine,” says Dr. Ed Blach, chief medical officer and co-founder of Vet24seven. He explains that because caffeine is a stimulant, when your dog ingests it, his heart could race or he could have a seizure. Theobromine, an alkaloid present in cocoa beans, acts as a diuretic, stimulant and even a relaxant for people, but it’s highly toxic to dogs.
- What are the common symptoms?
You might have caught your dog in the act or you might deduce she was a chocolate bandit by the crumbs she left all over the floor. But there are other ways to tell whether your pooch ate chocolate. Some dogs show symptoms — Dr.
Blach says to watch for extreme thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, agitation, hyperactive behavior, excessive panting, pacing and seizures.
- Is a trip to the vet always necessary?
If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet right away. “Describe the amount of chocolate, the type of chocolate, and the timing,” says Dr. Denise Petryk, the director of veterinary services at Trupanion. Your vet can then tell you what to do. “If your veterinarian confirms chocolate toxicity, they will most likely induce vomiting or administer activated charcoal,” says Dr. Blach. Those methods will get the toxins out of your dog.
- What if my dog ate chocolate but seems fine?
Some dogs can eat chocolate and then appear perfectly fine. “If a dog ingests chocolate and does not show clinical signs, it’s simply because they did not ingest an amount of methlyzanthines [the active ingredients in caffeine] high enough to cross the toxic threshold,” says Dr.
Chad Harris, chief of staff at North Austin Animal Hospital. But keep in mind that all chocolate is harmful to dogs, and you should check with your vet regardless of how your dog acts. The more chocolate your dog eats, the more likely he will need treatment.
- Does the type of chocolate matter?
There’s chocolate and then there’s chocolate, meaning that “different kinds of chocolates contain varying degrees of theobromine,” says Dr. Blach. The rule of thumb, he says, is the darker the chocolate, the greater the danger. White chocolate and milk chocolate, for example, contain less theobromine compared with dark chocolate. Baking chocolate has quite a bit of theobromine and cocoa powder has the most of all.
- Does the size of my dog matter?
The size of your dog plays a role in whether your dog shows symptoms. “A small amount of milk chocolate candies will typically not harm your Great Dane,” says Dr. Petryk.
But if your Yorkie ate that rich, dark chocolate bar you were saving for after dinner, or if your beagle lapped up all the cocoa powder you spilled on the floor during your cupcake baking session, your dog could suffer some serious problems.
“Chocolate toxicity is determined by the weight of the dog and how much chocolate was ingested,” says Dr. Harris. It’s always a good idea to check with your vet after a doggy chocolate episode.
Now instead of panicking and helplessly thinking “My dog ate chocolate!” you know what to do. Because most dogs will eat anything, help yours stay safe (and your stash stocked) by keeping your chocolates out of reach and have a pet sitter stop by to ward off destruction in your absence and catch any harmful behaviors sooner.
Laura Agadoni is a pet writer and pet owner whose articles appear in various publications, such as The Daily Puppy, Pets on mom. me, the nest, Tom’s of Maine, The Penny Hoarder and Trulia.
* This article is for general informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
Read Next: The Dog Diet: How to Keep Weight Off Your Dog
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Read Next: 7 Reasons Why You Should Get A Family Dog
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than it threatens and what to do?
Your dog ate chocolate. It would seem, what is this? Let’s figure it out.
Can dogs have chocolate?
Cocoa bean, the main ingredient in chocolate, contains theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs. Theobromine is structurally very similar to caffeine. Theobromine, like caffeine, has a stimulating effect on the nervous system, increasing the time of wakefulness.
The photo shows a dog after chocolate poisoning and a night in the hospital on a drip.
In small amounts, theobromine increases oxygen flow to the brain, heart rate and nutrient flow to the brain. But in the body of dogs, unlike the human body, theobromine is poorly absorbed, which leads to a longer effect on dogs.
So chocolate is not allowed for dogs – it can cause poisoning and even death. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs – literally. nine0003
Chocolate poisoning in dogs
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs may appear within 6 to 12 hours after chocolate has been ingested by the dog. Therefore, you should not relax if your dog does not show any symptoms of poisoning immediately after eating chocolate.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs
- At first the dog becomes hyperactive.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Increased body temperature.
- Convulsions.
- Muscle stiffness.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Increased breathing and heart rate.
- With a high concentration of theobromine, acute heart failure, depression, coma.
Lethal dose of chocolate for dogs
There is the concept of LD50 – the average dose of a substance that leads to death. For dogs, the LD50 is 300 mg per 1 kg of body weight. nine0003
The content of the Pesseen in chocolate depends on its variety:
- to 60 mg in 30 g of milk chocolate
- to 400 mg in 30 g of Gorky
A deadly dose of chocolate for a dog weighing 30 kg is 4.5.5 kg of milk chocolate or 677 g of dark chocolate.
But the deterioration of well-being is observed when taking much less chocolate!
The size and age of the dog also have a strong influence on outcome: the older or smaller the dog, the greater the risk of serious poisoning and death. nine0003
The dog ate chocolate: what to do?
If you notice that your dog has eaten chocolate, the main thing is not to panic.
You need composure to save your tail.
- It is necessary to induce vomiting (but this only makes sense if no more than 1 hour has passed after the dog has eaten the chocolate).
- There is no specific antidote for theobromine, so treatment of chocolate poisoning in dogs is symptomatic.
- It is urgent to contact the veterinary clinic to determine the severity of the poisoning and provide timely assistance.
My dog ate chocolate and felt great, so what’s the matter?
Everyone has heard that chocolate is dog poison, but many dogs who eat this treat in small amounts do not experience any pain. The fact is that poison is always a dose.
Theobromine and caffeine.
If you ask dog owners what foods not to feed these four-legged animals, they will list foods such as onions, garlic, rhubarb, grapes, and chocolate. (By the way, if porridge is on their list, don’t listen to them.) The inability of dogs to eat chocolate safely is well known, but because they devour everything indiscriminately, many of them have to be treated every year for the chocolate they have eaten.
nine0003
However, there are such dogs, and there are also very, very many of them, that eat chocolate (with or without the knowledge of the owners) and at the same time feel great, without any need for treatment. If chocolate is extremely harmful to dogs, then why are these four-legged sweet teeth doing just fine?
Because poison is always a dose.
The components of chocolate that are toxic to dogs are theobromine and caffeine. These chemicals are structurally almost identical, and both are methylxanthines. nine0003
One of the factors that makes methylxanthines extremely dangerous to animals is their extremely slow absorption. This is especially true for theobromine. In dogs, plasma levels of caffeine (the non-cellular component of the blood) peak after 30-60 minutes, with a plasma half-life of 4.5 hours. But with theobromine, things are worse: its concentration in dog plasma becomes peak not earlier than after 10 hours, the half-life is 17.5 hours.
When in the blood, methylxanthines produce a number of effects.
First of all, they inhibit the activation of adenosine receptors. These receptors are mainly responsible for bringing the body into a sleepy state and reducing its activity. Methylxanthines suppress drowsiness by acting as stimulants. nine0003
● Click here to see how grapefruit affects theobromine metabolism ●
Theobromine metabolism enzyme is a member of the P450 family of enzymes. If you have heard of these enzymes, it is most likely because the absorption of many drugs depends on them, and you are taking some of them (for example, Viagra, Cialis, erythromycin, Xanax) and you were advised not to drink grapefruit juice. The recommendation is explained by the fact that the chemical compounds contained in grapefruit affect the P450 enzymes, without the normal functioning of which the absorption of drugs is difficult and an overdose may occur. In addition to grapefruits, such compounds are found in pomelo, bitter and Seville oranges used for making marmalade.
Fortunately, dogs rarely eat fruits containing these compounds, but if a dog like the famous Marmaduke ate a decent amount of marmalade and some chocolate, he would be in serious trouble. nine0133
So what happens if your dog eats a chocolate bar? She will feel nausea and possibly vomiting, her heart will begin to beat faster, diarrhea will occur, signs of hyperactivity will appear, and if the dose of methylxanthines is high, the dog will face tremors, convulsions and even death.
Which dose of methylxanthines should be considered high depends on what kind of dog you have.
According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Protection of Animals), signs of mild theobromine poisoning are observed at a dose of 20 mg/kg, and severe from 40 mg/kg. Already at a dose of 60 mg/kg, convulsions may begin. In toxicological studies, by measuring the toxicity of a substance, its median lethal dose (LD 50 ), that is, the dose required to kill half of a sample population.
For theobromine LD 50 is 100-200 mg/kg.
Please note that all doses are calculated per kilogram of dog weight, so a dose of theobromine that is low in a German Shepherd may be extremely high in a Chihuahua.
To illustrate this, let’s take three dogs. Let’s start with Baci, a five-year-old seven-kilogram female maltipoo. By all criteria, this is a small dog. nine0003 Baci
Followed by Chanelle, ten year old golden retriever female, medium size, 25 kg.
Chanelle
And finally – Jupiter (Jupiter), a five-year-old male, a cross between a Malamute and a German Shepherd. This is a large dog weighing 50 kg.
Jupiter
I calculated what would happen to each of these dogs after they ate the same amount of chocolate. My results can be seen in the table below. These numbers are easy to check with some online chocolate toxicity calculator. nine0003
| Dose of Theobromine Bachey | Dose of theobromine Chanel | Dose of theobromine Jupiter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk chocolate (1 large bar, 85 g) | 22 mg/kg | 6. 3 mg/kg |
3.2 mg/kg |
| Dark chocolate (1 large bar, 85 g) | 54 mg/kg | 15 mg/kg | 7.5 mg/kg |
| Cocoa powder (1/3 cup, 30 g) | 87 mg/kg | 24 mg/kg | 12 mg/kg |
| Cooking (confectionery) chocolate (bitter, 1 large bar, 85 g) | 158 mg/kg | 44 mg/kg | 22 mg/kg |
| ( Green 60 mg/kg ) | |||
So we see that after eating 1/3 cup (US cup – 240 ml) of cocoa powder (the usual amount for recipes for making chocolate brownies), Jupiter will probably be in perfect order, Chanel, most likely, he will get sick, and Bachi may get such convulsions, which often lead to death. nine0003
It is easy to see, if one is willing to think about tabular numbers, that a great many dogs, having eaten foods containing chocolate, will remain in perfect order. Chanel can easily eat half a cup of chocolate ice cream, a cup of chocolate pudding or a chocolate muffin – and at least henna!
| Number of species (brands) tested | Average Theobromine (mg/g) | Average caffeine (mg/g) | Average Theobromine (mg/serving) | Average caffeine content (mg/serving) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa | |||||
| Cocoa | 1 | 20. 3 |
3.14 | ||
| Culinary (confectionery) chocolate | |||||
| Bitter cooking chocolate without sugar | 2 | 13.0 | 1.55 | ||
| Cooking dark chocolate | 3 | 5.65 | 0.617 | ||
| Milk chocolate chips | 2 | 1.50 | 0.261 | ||
| Chocolate bars, bars and sweets | |||||
| Dark chocolate | 2 | 4.41 | 0.540 | ||
| Breakfast bars | 1 | 1.36 | 0.116 | 52.8 | 4.4 |
| Milk chocolate | 6 | 1.88 | 0.194 | ||
| Fudge (chocolate toffee) | 1 | 6. 55 |
0.646 | 41.3 | 4.1 |
| Sweet toppings | |||||
| Chocolate syrup, 2 tbsp. spoons | 1 | 0.272 | 76.8 | 9.8 | |
| Chocolate fudge topping, 2 tbsp. spoons | 2 | 1.58 | 0.088 | 62.7 | 3.5 |
| Chocolate fudge frosting | 3 | 2.13 | 0.123 | 75.3 a | 4.2 a |
| Baking | |||||
| Brownie | 6 | 1.42 | 0.138 | 29.4 | 2.8 |
| Chocolate chip cookies | 3 | 17.6 | 2.1 | ||
| Chocolate muffins | 3 | 1.50 | 0.176 | 33.7 | 3.8 |
| Chocolate cake without frosting, 1/12 cake | 8 | 1. 62 |
0.155 | 7.3 | |
| Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, 1/12 cake | 6 | 161.2 | 15.8 | ||
| Chocolate bar with nuts | 2 | 1.14 | 0.152 | 54.2 | 7.3 |
| Diabetic Chocolate Cookies | 1 | 1.23 | 0.085 | 12.1 | 0.8 |
| Flakes | |||||
| Rice and corn flakes with cocoa | 3 | 0.70 | 0.071 | ||
| Puddings | |||||
| Chocolate Custard Baby Pudding | 1 | 0.22 | 0.008 | 28.5 | 1.1 |
| Chocolate pudding and pie filling, powder | 2 | 2.28 | 0.226 | 62.2 | 6.1 |
| Ready-to-drink chocolate pudding | 2 | 0. 62 |
0.049 | 87.5 | 7.0 |
| Beverages and dairy products | |||||
| Cocoa drinks, powder | 12 | 2.66 | 0.208 | 65.5 b | 5.3 b |
| Chocolate milk | 3 | 0.23 | 0.011 | 58.7 | 2.8 |
| Chocolate ice cream, half cup | 3 | 0.62 | 0.032 | 43.5 | 2.2 |
● What about cocoa bean husk mulch? (click) ●
Cocoa husk mulch has gained popularity in recent years. This mulch is considered an excellent substitute for traditional mulch. It adds nutrients to the soil and prevents the growth of weeds, and therefore can bring great benefits to your garden. But with all this, it is very dangerous for your dog. Since cocoa bean husk mulch contains up to 32 mg of theobromine per gram, it can be a more potent source of theobromine than even pure, unsweetened cooking chocolate.
If you are not sure that your dog will not chew such mulch, it is better to use the traditional one, since it will cost you much less! nine0133
Even if your dog eats a little bit of chocolate and doesn’t feel any pain, it’s still best not to give him this treat. One study found that repeated exposure to theobromine in dogs leads to the development of cardiomyopathy (a chronic disease of the heart muscle that hinders blood circulation).
● Among other things, a dog’s ability to absorb theobromine can be influenced by genotype (click to read) ●
Dogs with one CYP1A2 gene variant (1117C>T variant) are unable to properly metabolize and break down certain substances, including lidocaine, naproxen, and theobromine. Apparently, this is where the answer to the question lies, why some dogs get sick from a tiny piece of chocolate. This circumstance is important to consider when treating a dog in a veterinary clinic.
So, what should you do if you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate? There are several options.
You can use an online calculator (such as this one) to determine if your dog is sick, or dial the veterinarian’s number. Remember that a calculator test is no substitute for a veterinary examination, so regardless of the results, you should carefully monitor your dog for symptoms such as heart palpitations, vomiting, or tremors. nine0003
If your dog has eaten chocolate and you don’t know how much, if she has symptoms of poisoning, if she is pregnant (theobromine can pass into the fetus through the placenta), or something else has weakened her health, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Poisoning may not appear immediately, but only two hours after the dog has swallowed chocolate, but the sooner veterinary treatment is carried out, the better.
What do veterinarians do to cure a dog poisoned by theobromine? They cleanse her stomach. First of all, if the poisoning has occurred recently, all contents are removed from it. This is often done with apomorphine injected through the eye for rapid absorption.
nine0003
Activated charcoal is then used, a powder that can bind many chemicals. Activated charcoal is most effective when given immediately after poisoning. For dogs, it is usually mixed with wet food (keep in mind: your dog’s stool will turn black). In some cases, it is necessary to give coal repeatedly, in others, once is enough.
In addition, theobromine-poisoned dogs are treated with drugs that relieve specific symptoms, such as diazepam (for convulsions and overexcitation), beta-blockers, and atropine (for high and low heart rates, respectively). nine0003
Finally: something about cats
Oddly enough, theobromine is more dangerous for cats than for dogs. However, nothing is heard about cats that got sick after eating chocolate. Why?
The main reason is that cats tend to be picky eaters. Dogs, on the other hand, are notoriously promiscuous, eating just about anything edible that comes under their noses (including cannabis joint butts, which can cause drug poisoning).