Why is chocolate bad for dogs?
Veterinarians disapprove of feeding dogs any kind of “human food,” but They are particularly determined to keep chocolate away from our canine friends. But Why is chocolate, milk or dark, so toxic to dogs?
Chocolate contains the chemicals theobromine and caffeine, and these two stimulants, which Dogs cannot metabolize as easily as humans, accumulate in the animal’s body, where they can speed up a dog’s bodily functions and cause dangerous side effects, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, a company that operates over 1,000 animal hospitals worldwide United States and Canada.
The severity of the negative effects of chocolate on a dog is determined by the levels of theobromine and caffeine in the chocolate product, the amount of food the dog eats, its weight, and its sensitivity to chemical stimulants. Dark and bitter chocolate is more toxic to dogs, containing a higher concentration of theobromine per ounce than milk chocolate (130 to 450 milligrams per ounce, compared to 45 to 58 milligrams per ounce for milk chocolate). White chocolate, on the other hand, contains only 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce and therefore poses a much lower toxic threat to dogs, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
What are the symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs?
The first symptoms of chocolate toxicity are usually appear within 6 to 12 hours, and may include excessive salivation and panting, increased thirst and urination, And stomach ache followed by vomiting and diarrhea, according to American Kennel Club (AKC). The dog may experience an increased heart rate and become restless, nervous and excited, like a caffeine-sensitive person who has had too many cups of coffee.
In severe cases, irregular heartbeat chocolate consumption can reduce traffic, resulting in a drop in body temperature. Extreme symptoms include lethargy, muscle spasms, convulsions and coma, which sometimes lead to death, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. And because theobromine has a long half-life, which means that it It takes longer for the body to break it down, so symptoms of chocolate poisoning can persist for days.
In some cases, dogs consume chocolate but have no symptoms; it’s because the size of the toxin dose can affect an animal’s response to poisoning, according to Office of Science and Society at McGill University in Ontario, Canada.
How do vets treat chocolate poisoning?
Veterinarians usually treat chocolate toxicity by inducing vomiting or administering doses of activated charcoal, which purges toxins from the dog’s digestive system before they can be absorbed into the animal’s bloodstream, according to the AKC. Depending on the severity of poisoning, medications or fluids may be needed to counteract the poisoning, say it AKC.
What might affect a dog’s reaction to chocolate?
“A dog’s reaction to chocolate may depend on the size of the animal, veterinarian Greg Nelson, Director of Surgery and Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Central Veterinary Associates In Creek Valley, New York State, said Live Science. SO, a piece of chocolate will have a more pronounced effect on a chihuahua, which typically weighs between 4 and 6 pounds (1.8 to 2.7 kilograms) than on a Saint Bernard, which can weigh up to 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
“One hundred milligrams of theobromine and caffeine per kilogram of a dog’s weight is enough to kill it,” Nelson said MotssideKick.com. “Different chocolate products have varying levels of theobromine and caffeine, and The worst offender is bakery chocolate. In my experience, one ounce of baker’s chocolate per pound of dog body weight can be fatal.
Milk chocolate is less dangerous than baking chocolate because it contains fewer stimulants, but Nelson warns that if your dog has ingested chocolate, regardless of the type or amount, it is always better to be safe than sorry. “I advise clients to consult their veterinarian instead of hesitating and risking creating an emergency by not having them examine the dog right away,” Nelson “At a minimum, call your veterinarian or the National Animal Poison Control Center for advice.”
In case of chocolate poisoning can affect dogs at any time, puppies are more likely to find and consume chocolate during holidays such as Christmas and Easter, when there is plenty of chocolate available in the form of figurines (such as bunnies and Santa Claus) Claus), as well as in bars, eggs, liqueurs, cakes and decorations, the researchers wrote in a 2017 article in the journal Veterinary file . Actually, Dogs are four times more likely to need to see a vet over the Christmas period due to chocolate poisoning than on non-holiday days; and at Easter, dogs are twice as likely to get sick from chocolate, compared to other periods of the year, previously reported Live Science.
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