How to Deal with Dog That Eats Chocolates

It is not surprising if dogs are treated and considered as members of the family given that after long years of association with humans, dogs have shown human-like behaviors. Ancestors of modern day dogs have roamed the wilderness but today’s pets are content to stay inside the house. Dogs are carried in trendy carrier bags, wearing cute doggie outfits and accessories or sleeping in their comfortable beds are signs that these animals have indeed adapted to the ways of humans. Dogs have also developed a taste for human foods. Who would ever think that these animals of the wild would appreciate the cold and sweet tastes of ice creams. A dog will also eat chocolates with gusto

If dogs can talk it would probably say “Why should I refuse to eat chocolates”? Chocolates are yummy and quite addicting. While humans can eat chocolates to their heart’s content, a dog that eats significant amounts of this melt-in-the-mouth people food can be poisoned. Chocolates has a chemical Theobromine which is poisonous to dogs. Theobromine in chocolates causes the poisoning as dogs do not have the specific enzyme necessary to metabolize this chemical.

A dog that has ingested substantial amount of chocolate would have stomach pains, would vomit and appear intoxicated. Standing up and walking would be difficult. Other signs of chocolate poisoning would be rapid pulse, bluish gums and seizure.

What must be done to dogs that have eaten chocolates? Chocolate poisoning warrants urgent medical attention as it can cause the death of the dog. Dogs would have varying reactions to the toxicity of chocolates. In some dogs, the sign of toxicity would be seen after chocolate ingestion, in others, symptoms of poisoning will surface several hours after chocolate was consumed. This is due to the fact that poisoning would depend on the dog’s weight and on the amount of chocolate and on the kind of chocolate ingested by the dog.

Dog owners should not wait for symptoms to appear. As soon as the pet was seen eating chocolates especially if it has finished off a substantial amount, the dog must be taken to the vet’s at once. As a first aid treatment, the dog can be given blackened toast as this will bind the poison and prevent it from being absorbed by the body. If the pet has not yet vomited, the vet would induce vomiting to remove as much of the poison as possible. Activated charcoal will be administered to neutralize the poison and to prevent it from being absorbed by the body .

Dog chocolate poisoning is a searious matter. Learn more about what to do if your dog eats chocolate, why they cannot have chocolate and chocolate toxicity in dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.