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chocolate

13:27:05

Question
What dose chocolate do to your dog, and is it ok to give dog any type of chocolate.

Answer
Hello Janelle -

It is not safe to give your dog chocolate. If your pet eats a choclate chip cookie on occassion or by accident it is okay but  no type of chocolate should not be fed to dogs.

Chocolate contains the toxin Methylxanthine. This toxin is also found in coffee, tea, theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline.

Caffeine and theobromine (chocolate) have an effect on animals similar to that on people. They increase the breathing and heart rate, sometimes causing irregular beating of the heart. They cause restlessness because of the changes at the cellular level with calcium and energy sources. Caffeine also directly stimulates the myocardium and central nervous system.

Theobromine is found in chocolate, cocoa beans, cocoa bean hulls (landscape bedding), cola, and tea. Milk chocolate contains 44 mg/oz. and unsweetened baking chocolate contains 390 mg/oz.

Symptoms occur with the ingestion of 45 mg per pound of body weight. Theobromine deaths have been reported after ingestion of 52 mg per pound of body weight.

Caffeine is toxic at about 63 mg per pound of body weight.

Common signs include vomiting, diarrhea, panting, hyperactivity, restlessness, ataxia, muscle tremors, increased or decreased heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, increased body temperature. Seizures, coma, or death may occur. Less frequent symptoms include abdominal pain and blood in the urine.

Should your pet consume a lethal dosage of chocolate or caffeine induce vomitting. Follow through with a visit to the vet, where the induction of vomiting may be continued, a gastric lavage is performed and activated charcoal is administered.

I hope this information has helped you and your pet.

If you would like information on natural and herbal remedies for human and animal concerns please contact me at wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assist you. I also offer a catalog of specially formulated herbal remedies which I can send to you as well. My catalog is also available online at www.localharvest.org.

Thank you and best wishes to you and your pet.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist