If your Dog Ate Chocolate Here’s what you Need to Do Leave a comment

I can only hope this story will help you to understand that it’s not all lost if you go on a eating frenzy for a day or two. Personal Story: While this story is very embarrassing, I want to share it. The last thing you want to do is chase after them or make a big deal about what they have in their mouth, as many dogs find this a fun game or will chew and swallow faster so you can’t take it away. You’ll want to have your pet’s weight, health history, the amount and kind of chocolate he ate, and any meds he’s taking ready so that you can get the best advice possible. Please remember that the above figures are only estimates, and the effects of chocolate on puppies, very small dogs, very young dogs or those with other health problems, can be more severe and therefore more dangerous. If your dog is exhibiting symptoms, ate an unknown or toxic amount, is pregnant, or has other health conditions, bring them to the vet right away. Another time, I was pet sitting a German shepherd who ate a bar of 75% cacao dark chocolate.

Yes, darker chocolate is more dangerous, but what about the Bounty Bar? The good news is it’s highly unlikely that your little one will wake up Easter morning, dive into their Easter basket, peel back the foil, and take a big, delighted chomp out of a bar of baking chocolate. Typically, dark chocolate is better suited to an adult palette and less likely to appear in high percentage cacao values in your little one’s easter basket. In light cases, dogs may simply vomit or have diarrhea a few times and then feel better. It’s always better to be safe than sorry in my mind. To ensure you can treat your dog as needed, it’s important to know all the basic facts. Giving a picture of the packaging to your veterinarian and letting them know when you believe your dog has eaten chocolate is a good idea. But it is important for pet owners cat reaction to flea treatment know that chocolate is toxic to cats TOO. You should keep an eye on your dog for at least an hour after consuming chocolate that contains theobromine. I totally agree, keep that chocolate far away from the dogs!

Your dogs lives are at risk and you are too ignorant to pay attention to the real Professionals! Chocolate is not safe for canines in any amount or type, and you need to make an effort to ensure it is out their paw’s reach if you are going to keep it in the house. Make the best decision you can for you and your family. But as we all know, accidents can happen. Because the effects and treatment for both are similar and theobromine is far more problematic, for the sake of simplicity we can limit this discussion to the theobromine in chocolate. Never give any table foods, and be sure they are regularly exercised. Don’t delay; if you’re worried about your pet, give us a call. Call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline for advice. Based on the information you provide and if your dog is not showing any symptoms, you may be advised to monitor your dog and call back if their condition worsens. This may include watching for certain symptoms, continuing medication and obviously ensuring that your dog doesn’t get into the chocolate again. The milk chocolate most people eat doesn’t contain that much cocoa.

Your veterinarian will weigh your dog to accurately determine if your pooch has eaten a toxic dose of cocoa powder. At the Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), you can speak directly to an emergency veterinarian who will help you with knowing what the next steps are. When she got home that night, she kept the dog on her bed to keep an eye on her while waiting for her to arrive at the veterinarian in the middle of the night. A coworker of mine had a small dog that got into a container of baking chocolate and died after eating only two squares. However, if the same dog ate a 1 ounce block of baking chocolate it may lead to potentially fatal effects. Sandy had gotten onto the kitchen table, something he had never done before, and ate half a loaf of zucchini bread that contained chocolate chips and nuts. This is the most dangerous type and it’s twice as dangerous for him if that chocolate was the dark or baking variety, rather than semi-sweet. I was very fortunate because the type and amount he consumed, especially with his small size, could have and should have killed him.