Is Chocolate Poisonous To Dogs?

Uh Oh. Your Dog Just Ate Some Chocolate. Now What?

You have probably heard it before "Don't feed your dog chocolate.  It is poisonous to dogs."  But are these statements really true?

YES they are!  According to the Pet Poison Control center, chocolate injested by dogs can have mild to severe effects.

What Kinds of Chocolate Should be Avoided?

In general, ALL kinds of should be avoided when it comes to your pet.  One chocolate chip cookie however, will generally be okay, you should not intentionally feed these to your pooch because too much can really be a bad thing!

A general rule of thumb is:  The less sweet and darker - the more toxic it is. 

This means that dark and bakers chocolate cause the biggest health risk to a dog.

The toxicity is primarily caused by the caffeine within the chocolate itself.

 

What Are The Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning?

The symptoms of this kind of poisoning range from mild to severe and are:

• Rapid heart rate
• Vomiting
• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Elevated body temperature
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Death

 

What Do You Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Chocolate Poisoning?

The first thing you should do if you suspect chocolate poisoning is to call your vet or take your pet to the emergency veterinarian clinic for immediate attention. 

If you do not have a vet or there is no emergency clinic that you can take the dog to, there is a Pet Poison Helpline which is open 24/7 and can direct you on what to do in such an emergency. 

For a nominal fee, they can discuss with you your concerns and give you advice on the best way to proceed in treating this emergency condition. 

The fee that they charge covers the initial emergency call as well as all follow up calls regarding the situation.

In some cases, they can instruct you on various household items that you can use to either induce vomiting or different liquids you can use to neutralize the poison. 

The helpline number is 1-800-213-6618.

Rule Of Thumb

Whether you take your dog to an emergency  clinic or you call the Poison Helpline, a good rule of thumb when it comes to accidental poisoning is - "the faster you begin to treat the poisoning, the better the results will be."

So... if at all possible, when you suspect a poisoning has taken place... acting quickly may be the difference between life and death,

 

 

 

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