Most of us love chocolate and love the taste, so do our
dogs but the problem is that the same chocolate we love to
indulge in is not good for our best friend. In this article we
will explain why the consumption of chocolate is so
detrimental for our dogs.
We have all heard this all of our lives but how big a
threat is it really? Is it life threatening or will it just
make him sick? How much chocolate does the animal have to eat
for it to cause a negative reaction?
The ingredient in chocolate that makes it toxic to dogs is
theobromine that is toxic to dogs in too much quantity.
Theobromine is a xanthine compound in the same family of
caffeine, and theophylline. Thankfully, it takes a lot of
chocolate to make a dog sick though the exact amount will
differ according to the dog's individual sensitivity, its
size, and the concentration of the chocolate consumed.
Different types of chocolate have varying amounts of
theobromine with milk chocolate having about 44 mg of the
substance per ounce, semisweet chocolate 150 mg, and Baker'S
chocolate 390 mg per ounce making it the most dangerous to
your pet.
With this in mind, here are some guidelines to
consider:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate 1
ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate 1
ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.
So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause great
risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually
will only cause digestive problems.
Because Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular
system and peripheral nerves, consumption will result in
visible effects on your dog. It has a diuretic effect as well.
Some of the signs include hyper excitability, hyper
irritability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased
urination, muscle tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea.
There is no specific antidote for this poisoning.
Administering activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the
toxin. An anticonvulsant might be indicated if neurological
signs are present and needs to be controlled. Oxygen therapy,
intravenous medications, and fluids might be needed to protect
the heart.
Milk chocolate will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after
ingestion. This should be treated symptomatically (fluids,
etc..) to prevent dehydration.
If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your
Vet immediately! They can help you determine the the proper
treatment for your pet.
Gregg Hall is a business consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get more info on chocolate for you at www.chocolates-plus.com.
Browse
540 Dog Breeds
Looking for information on Dogs? We have all Dog breeds listed, just click on one of the links on the list to find more information about that breed!
Looking
for the perfect Dog name? Dogs names for your new
Puppy. Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/training/can-chocolate-really-kill-your-dog.html on line 891
Warning: include(http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/training/can-chocolate-really-kill-your-dog.html on line 891
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/training/can-chocolate-really-kill-your-dog.html on line 891
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
