Your little sister’s birthday is tomorrow and you have bought a bundle of chocolates for the birthday. You already have advised your family member to hide the chocolate from your two canines since you do not know whether your dogs can eat chocolate or not. But your trained dogs have somehow sneakily eaten some of the chocolates from the refrigerator and now you are worrying as what to do.
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Can Dogs eat Chocolate?
The answer to the question can dogs eat chocolate is “NO”. Chocolate, a dietary and manmade food, is very harmful to your dogs. The level of toxicity and the complications of eating chocolates depend on several factors: the amount of chocolate eaten by your dog, the type of chocolate and, last but not least, the size of your dog. The answer to the question that can dogs eat chocolates should be known by every dog lover. Can dogs eat chocolate? The answer is “NO”. Chocolates are very hazardous for your canines. Your pooches do not have the same metabolic systems and digestions as we humans do.
Why Can’t Dogs eat Chocolate?
Chocolate is indeed very delicious and mouthwatering but only for us humans. Chocolate contains very toxic components like theobromine and caffeine which are very hazardous for the metabolic system, heart rate, nervous system and digestion of your dog, says the Merck/Merial Manual for Veterinary Health. The theobromine is naturally found in cacao beans. Theobromine is used as a blood vessel dilator, heart stimulant, and diuretic.
Different types of chocolates have different levels of theobromine.
Chocolates like Cocoa, Unsweetened baker’s chocolate, Semi-sweet chocolate, Cooking chocolate, and dark chocolate have the highest levels of theobromine. Fast and irregular heartbeats occur following the ingestion of dark chocolates in dogs, says Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM and a renowned veterinarian at Clayton and Churchtown Veterinary Associates in New Jersey. Of all the dark chocolates and chocolates with high levels of theobromine, baking chocolates are the most harmful one since it unleashed its dangers on dogs if taken with brownies or cake. If, says Morgan, the baked good are supplemented with raisins and macadamia nuts than the dog will really be in hot water.
The milk chocolate and white chocolates tend to have a low amount of theobromine. Sugar in white chocolates could be harmful, too, says Dr. Morgan. The sugar in white chocolates can ultimately lead to pancreatitis.
Dogs, unlike humans, cannot digest this dangerous component in chocolates. The bodies of your canine process the theobromine very slowly resulting in the buildup of toxic materials and levels in their bodies ultimately. The level of toxicity of chocolates depends on taking the amount of chocolates.
How much Chocolate can Cause Poisoning in Your Dogs?
- If one kilogram of dog eats 20 mg of methylxanthines, the signs of toxicity in the body of dog will occur.
- If your one kg canine devours 40 to 50 mg of methylxanthines, the symptoms of cardiac will occur. The seizure will occur if your pooch, of one kilogram, eats more than 60 mg.
- 0.5 ounces of Baking Chocolate consumption by your 10-pound dog will require you to contact your veterinarian forthwith.
- 1.5 ounces of Dark Chocolate will cause toxicity in your 10-pound dog.
- In 10 pound dog, the amount of 3.5 ounces of Milk Chocolate will make you contact your veterinarian.
- White chocolate is less harmful but is harmful and not recommended in any case as a treat or reward for your dog on special occasions. If your 10-pound dog ingests 47 ounces of white chocolate, you will be required to call your veterinarian.
Can Dogs Eat Chocolate Related Foods?
1. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Cake?
Chocolate cake is not good for your dog. Your pooch cannot eat chocolate cake rather you should give him anything else as a treat or reward. The chocolate cake contains theobromine, caffeine, sugar and wheat flour. Not a single thing of these mentioned components are good for your canine and can lead to fatal internal injuries. A large amount of chocolate consumption will cause death ultimately. Following the ingestion of chocolate cake, you must call your veterinarian.
The following symptoms will occur if your dog has ingested chocolate cake sneakily.
- Vomiting
- Increased body temperature
- Diarrhea
- Rapid breathing
- Seizures
2. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Ice Cream?
Your dog cannot eat Ice Cream Chocolate. Ice Cream is load with high sugars and fats. Chocolate contains methylxanthines like theobromine and caffeine. Both of them together make a very dangerous food chocolate ice cream for your dog. Your dog will not only expose to the severe consequences following the ingestion of chocolate but also to the complications of consuming high sugars and fats: pancreatitis and diarrhea.
You must call your vet on the off chance your dog devours chocolate ice cream. The following symptoms will occur in your dog following the consumption of ice cream chocolate.
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Increased body temperature
- Seizures
- Pancreatitis( in case of long term consumption of sugar)
- Weight gain( long term condition because of eating sugar in any form)
3. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Chip Cookies?
The ingredients in chocolate chip cookies are not good for your pooch at all. Sugar, fats, chocolate_ which contains methylxanthines like theobromine and caffeine, and wheat flour are very hazardous for your dog’s health. Contact your veterinarian on the drop of hat if your pooch has consumed any chocolate cookies. Both in the long and short term, the chocolate chip cookies are bad for your dog.
In short term because of the presence of chocolate, your dog will develop severe health complications: diarrhea, vomiting, seizures and ultimately your dog will die.
In long term, the presence of sugar, fats and wheat flour will lead your dog to obesity, pancreatitis, and heart and kidney problems: Your dog will unlikely see these conditions because he would already be dead by consuming chocolate so much and on such a long term basis.
4. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Pudding?
Chocolate pudding is not that much dangerous for your dog as other kind and related foods to chocolate like chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ice cream. Chocolate pudding contains more milk than chocolate. It does not contain dark chocolate as well but still, it is dangerous to serve your dog with chocolate pudding as a reward or treat.
Its long term consumption will make your dog expose to obesity, heart diseases, and most fatal disease pancreatitis. The main detrimental component is sugar in chocolate pudding. If you want your dog healthier than other dogs, keep your dog away from any kind of food which includes any type of chocolate and dietary sugar.
5. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Candy?
Since chocolate candy is dietary and you do not know which type of chocolate is used in it, it is dangerous to give it to your dog. It is loaded with a very high amount of sugar. In case the chocolate used in candy is milk white, it is still not recommended to give chocolate candy to your pooch because of the high concentration of sugar in it. It will make your dog expose to vomiting, diarrhea, and bad behavior. In the long run, it will cause pancreatitis in your dogs.
6. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Brownies?
It is not safe to give your dog chocolate brownies. Brownies_ sometimes contain dark chocolate and sometimes white milk chocolate, are however very hazardous for your pooch’s health since brownies themselves contain concentrated sugar which, of course, is not good for your canine’s health. On the off chance, the brownies contain dark chocolate, then your dog will have to face the music. Taking small bits of dark chocolates can ultimately lead to death in your dogs because of the presence of the high amount of methylxanthines in it.
It is best not to give your dog chocolate brownies instead you can give your dog any type of dog meat: this will keep your dog healthy and active since any dog meat meet the requirement of a balanced food for your dog.
7. Can Dogs eat chocolate Donuts?
Donuts contain a high amount of sugar which your dog cannot process like human beings. The continuous consumption of donuts can lead your dog to develop pancreatitis_ a very painful disease in dogs, and obesity. Simple donuts_ loaded with sugar, are not good for your dog let alone chocolate donuts: serving chocolate donuts to your dog is a big risk and it can ultimately kill your dog if any chocolate donut happens to be loaded with dark chocolate_ dark chocolate is full of theobromine and caffeine. It is best not to expose your dog to chocolate donuts.
8. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Cereal?
Chocolate cereal is devoid of any large amount of chocolate but it is, of course, loaded with added sugar. It can havoc your canine’s teeth. Obesity and pancreatitis will be the ultimate result of eating chocolate cereal by your dog on a daily basis. It must not be given as a treat since it can transform the behavior of your dog to bad way if given on a long term basis. Instead of any cereal, pooches should be given meat and other dog food to meet the requirement of a dog body.
9. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Chip?
A small chocolate chip_ of white milk chocolate will not harm your dog’s health but it is not recommended by veterinarians since on one hand, it could deviate your dog from normal good food to bad dietary food and on another hand it is no substitute to a natural dog food like meat. It can also havoc your dog’s health in case of the presence of dark chocolate.
10. Can Dogs eat Chocolate Muffins?
Chocolate muffins are neither good nor bad_ if they do not contain any dark or baked chocolate, for your dogs. Chocolate muffins have not nutritional value. They are not that much toxic as dark chocolate, baked chocolate, and sweetened chocolate. If a large dog devours a small chip of chocolate muffins it would not cause any problem but a large amount of chocolate muffins might induce vomit and other complications in your dog.
Severe side effects of eating chocolates_ by small and large amounts, in your dogs:
What happens if Your Dogs eat a small amount of chocolates?
Symptoms:
The small amount of chocolates, like of milk chocolate and white chocolate, will, for sure, induce diarrhea, restlessness, upset stomach, too much urination and vomiting in your dog: These kinds of chocolates contain less amount of theobromine in them. After experiencing such results in your dogs, you must consult your veterinarian at the drop of hat.
What happens if Your Dogs eat a large amount of chocolates?
Symptoms:
Taking a large amount of chocolates_ like of Cocoa chocolate, Cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, is very hazardous for your pooches: These kinds of chocolate contain a high level of theobromine. This will result in producing irregular heartbeat, muscle tremors, seizures, gradual and unstoppable internal bleeding and ultimately a heart attack. Only a small amount of any of these chocolate can cause a high level of toxicity in your dog; less than an ounce of dark chocolate may be enough to poison 44 ounces of dog. The hyperactivity is the first result of, being poisoned by theobromine, in your dogs.
Chocolates are bad for dogs but what kind of dogs suffer the most:
The small dogs are more at risk as compare to large dogs since the digestive system of small pooches are very sensitive and not as complicated as that of large canines. Also, older dog and dogs with heart conditions are even more at risk than small dogs and a very small amount of chocolates can lead them to an instant and painful death.
First Aid Treatment in Case of taking a Small Amount of Chocolates by Your Dogs:
One ought to induce vomiting in dogs if chocolates are devoured by dogs in small amounts in less than two hours. The symptoms, says the ASPCA, do not occur immediately after eating chocolates by your pooches. It may take up 8 hours to become visible in your dogs.
You can also give your pooch hydrogen peroxide to make him vomit. Also, you must give several active doses of charcoal to your dog after the consumption of chocolates by your dogs. This will move the toxins out of your dog’s body and would not let them enter in the bloodstream of your dog. Prescribed by your veterinarian, you can give your dog apomorphine, a medicine, to induce vomiting.
On the off chance if your dog has ingested a large amount of chocolates:
In case your canine has eaten a large amount of chocolates, you must notify your veterinarian and act according to his advice. Your veterinarian will give your dog IV fluids and supplemental treatment to reduce the effects of theobromine and poisoning. If your dog has a seizure, then it might take overnight clinical stay for your dog to become healthy.
Precautions to prevent Your Dogs from eating Chocolates:
- Put the chocolates away and on high places like a shelf in a place with a lock.
- Train your dog from the very first day to not eat chocolates at all, no matter what.
- You can also crate train your dog, from the very first day of his life, during Halloween and Easter to avoid the future problem regarding eating chocolates or any other harmful foods. Make sure the crate is comfortable and large enough to provide your dog solace and sound sleep along with the convenient movement.
- Train your children to keep away the chocolates from your dog.
- Teach your dog” LEAVE IT” command.
- You must not keep dark chocolate in your home.
- Train your children to have white chocolate on celebrations, birthdays and other occasions: in case your dog eat it accidentally, so it would be easy to treat your dog.
Who to contact if Your Dog consumes a Large or Small amount of Chocolates:
It takes up from 2 to 8 hours for the signs of chocolate poisoning in your dogs. You must take initiatives to prevent your dog from any fatal injuries. You can take the following steps to provide your dog with good treatment in case of chocolate or other food poisonings.
- First thing is first: contact your veterinarian and act accordingly. Your veterinarian will make the toxic amount removed from the body of your dog once he found the ingestion of hazardous materials.
- Contact Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) to get help regarding the health of your dog: you must know the amount of consumed chocolate by your dog and his/her weigh before asking them for any help. The service is round the clock for pet owners and veterinarians. You can also elicit additional information by surfing their website www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
- You can also contact Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) to get the help regarding any issue of food poison in your pets especially your dogs.
LAST LINES:
Chocolate is very toxic to your dogs in any form because it contains theobromine and caffeine. It has no nutritional value. If your pooch accidentally consumes chocolate, you should contact your veterinarian or pet poison helpline to provide your dog with the best treatment and suggestions. Train your dog to keep away from any food related to chocolates. You must also train your children to keep the dog away from chocolates. You ought to give your dog natural food like meat and usual dog food to make him healthier.
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