Give chocolate to loved ones, and you could
end up poisoning them. That is, if the loved ones are your
pets.
Even small amounts of theobromine, an
ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in
pets. Larger doses can be fatal. While most pet owners
expect a dog to develop an upset stomach after eating a large
amount of chocolate, few realize its toxic potential.
The lethal dose of theobromine depends on
the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for
ounce, baking chocolate has six to nine times as much of the
substance as milk chocolate does.
Estimates of the smallest amounts that can
be fatal are:
- 4 to 10 ounces of milk chocolate or 1/2 to
1 ounce of baking chocolate for small dogs, such as Chihuahuas and
Toy Poodles.
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 2
to 3 ounces of baking chocolate for medium-sized dogs, like Cocker
Spaniels and Dachshunds.
- 2 to 4 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 4
to 8 ounces of baking chocolate for large dogs, including Collies
and Labrador retrievers.
Cats have much different eating habits and
seldom are poisoned by chocolate.
While a very small amount of chocolate may
not harm some dogs, it's safest to avoid giving it to them at all.
If an accident occurs, a veterinarian should be consulted.
Treatment may require inducing vomiting, stabilizing the animal's
heartbeat and respiration, controlling seizures and slowing the
absorption of theobromine. If the animal already is comatose,
its stomach may need to be pumped.
Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning
include:
- hyperexcitability
- nervousness
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- death
