Table of Contents
Dogs can be poisoned by chocolate, and depending on the kind and quantity of chocolate they eat as well as their weight, it may result in a significant medical emergency. You should keep an eye out for any indications of toxicity if you know your dog has consumed chocolate.
Find out what kinds of chocolate are the most harmful, how much is too much, and what symptoms could indicate that your dog needs help.
Why Can't Dogs Eat Chocolate?
Caffeine and theobromine are both found in chocolate, and they can increase your dog’s heart rate and excite their nervous system. Of the two, theobromine appears to be the most hazardous. Compared to caffeine, it takes a lot longer to exit the body. However, a dog’s kidneys, heart, and central nervous system may be impacted by either substance. Unexpected spikes in sugar and fat can also upset a dog’s stomach.
The kind and quantity of chocolate your dog eats will determine the likelihood that they may get sick from eating it. Different varieties of chocolate have varying quantities of these harmful ingredients. The following chocolate varieties are toxic for dogs:
- Unsweetened baker’s chocolate
- Cocoa powder
- Dark chocolate
- Semisweet chocolate
- Milk chocolate
- Chocolate milk
Can Dogs Eat Any Kind of Chocolate?
All types of chocolates that humans can eat are toxic to dogs. Personal sensitivity may also be a factor in the level of toxicity. Generally speaking, chocolate that is darker is more harmful to your dog. Let’s examine the many varieties of chocolate in more detail.
Dark Chocolate
Theobromine and caffeine content increase with the chocolate’s color. This implies that your dog will get sick even if they eat a little bit of dark chocolate.
Milk Chocolate
Vanilla, Lecithin, or milk solids are combined with chocolate liquid to create milk chocolate. Because of this, it has less theobromine than dark chocolate. However, dogs should never consume it as it is still poisonous to them.
White Chocolate
Theobromine and caffeine levels in white chocolate are typically low to induce symptoms or illness in dogs. However, because of the fat and sugar content, you should still avoid giving it to dogs.
Sugar-Free Chocolate
Sugar-free chocolate occasionally contains xylitol, a type of sugar alcohol used to enhance many food products. So, it may be even more harmful to dogs. Even a tiny quantity of xylitol can be fatal to dogs.
How Much Chocolate is Bad for Dogs?
The amount of caffeine and theobromine in the chocolate will determine whether chocolate is hazardous to them. Additionally, symptoms differ based on your dog’s food intake. It takes less chocolate for smaller dogs to get sick than for larger dogs.
For dogs, eating about 1 ounce of milk chocolate per pound could be fatal. However, consuming even less might be harmful. Ten snack-sized. For example, a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar weighs less than five ounces. A 60-pound dog might not suffer any harm if they had ten Hershey’s snack bars. However, it’s probably an emergency if a 10-pound dog consumes the same quantity.
The amount of caffeine and theobromine in the chocolate will determine whether chocolate is hazardous to them. Additionally, symptoms differ based on your dog’s food intake. It takes less chocolate for smaller dogs to get sick than for larger dogs.
The type of chocolate is usually identified on the packaging. The weight of the package is displayed in the label’s lower corners.
It’s possible that some pet owners are unaware of how much chocolate their dog consumed. Alternatively, their dog might have consumed a combination of chocolate and almonds coated in chocolate. So, remember that you should always get advice from a veterinarian, even if you can guess how much your dog ate.
What Are the Signs of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs?
Your dog may have a variety of symptoms after eating chocolate. Hours after your dog consumes chocolate, the symptoms might not show themselves. Additionally, symptoms differ based on the amount of chocolate your dog consumed.
The following are typical indicators of chocolate poisoning in dogs:
- Too much thirst
- Anxiety
- Breathing quickly
- Throwing up
- Having diarrhea
- Bloating
- Unusual heart rate or a racing heartbeat
- An excessive amount of activity
The following are more serious signs of chocolate poisoning:
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Collapse
- Heart failure
How Do Veterinarians Handle Canine Chocolate Poisoning?
The kind of chocolate your dog consumed, how much they consumed, and how much time has elapsed will all affect how they are treated for chocolate toxicity. The symptoms of chocolate toxicity may not go away for up to four days.
In order to prevent the spread of harmful chemicals, a veterinarian may administer activated charcoal and induce vomiting if you report it early enough. Never attempt to induce vomiting in your dog by yourself.
Your dog may be placed on supportive therapy by a veterinarian in more severe cases of chocolate poisoning.
Conclusion
In short, it is just plain bad to give any amount of chocolate to your dog. You can always find a good, sweet, and pet-friendly alternative to treat your dog. If you’re looking for more advice to keep your dog safe and healthy, visit Vetgen Pharmaceuticals. From breed-specific insights to advice on how to keep your dog happy and healthy, we offer an excellent resource for anything dog-related.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs get pancreatitis from chocolate?
Dogs may get pancreatitis as a result of the high-fat content in chocolate. When the pancreas has pancreatitis, it breaks down its own nutrients instead of those from food. Chocolate will upset most dogs’ stomachs, but not all dogs will have pancreatitis.
Dogs with pancreatitis may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Throwing up
- Having diarrhea
- Absence of appetite
- A fever
- Abdominal pain
How to respond if your dog consumes chocolate?
Contact a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away if your dog has consumed chocolate. Be ready to explain to them the type of chocolate your dog ate, how much of the chocolate they ate, and how much they weighed.
Are dogs poisoned by Nutella?
It’s true that dogs cannot eat Nutella. It includes cocoa powder, which contains a lot of caffeine and theobromine. Nutella is also heavy in sugar and fat. Call a veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away if your dog has consumed Nutella.
