The Dangers of Ingesting Chocolate
Chocolate is in wide abundance this time of year. Even though we may give those we love chocolate as a sign of affection, giving it to your canine companion could be deadly. If a dog ingests chocolate it can sicken or even kill the dog. NO amount of chocolate is OK to feed a dog. Even small amounts of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Truly toxic amounts can induce hyperactivity, tremors, high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, seizures, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest.
Chocolate is made from cocoa, and cocoa beans contain caffeine and a related chemical compound called theobromine, which is the real danger. Theobromine metabolizes much slower in dogs than humans. The more theobromine a cocoa product contains, the more poisonous it is to your dog. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate contains about 390 milligrams of theobromine per ounce — about 10 times more than milk chocolate and more than twice as much as semi-sweet chocolate. White chocolate contains very little theobromine. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is potentially lethal.
If your canine ingests chocolate take them immediately to your veterinarian.