My Dog Ate Chocolate. What Should I Do?

All the presents were on the table in neat stacks, ready to wrap, including the giant Hershey bars I was sending to the grandsons in Connecticut. My plan was to do the wrapping later in the evening after I came home from the gym. But upon my return I was greeted with shredded aluminum foil and scraps of tell tale brown Hershey wrapper all over the floor. Sir Pooch was relaxing by the couch, very satisfied after his snack of four ounces of solid milk chocolate. Panic time! Chocolate is toxic to dogs. But how much is how toxic? .

First, assess the dog's condition.

I'm not a vet, so I can't form a professional opinion. I would have immediately called a vet, if it were within office hours, but it was not. Sir Pooch was relaxed, acting normal, not panting or moaning, so I assumed I did not have an immediate emergency. Warning: If a dog is vomiting, having diarrhea, is nervous or shaking, and/or having rapid heartbeats, there is no time to waste. Call an emergency vet now. (Note: Do you even know an emergency vet? Find one and post the number for future reference.)

Do an online search for: "My dog ate chocolate, what should I do?"

I got a wealth of opinions and accounts of other people's experiences which helped me think through the situation. The most thorough and helpful comments I found were on Yahoo! Answers, from dog owners who had had the same problem. They ranged from "Call your vet" (duh) to "Your dog is probably fine (Pshew. I can breathe now)" to "Check this chart (enormously helpful.) " Of course, these people are not vets either, so these are only opinions.

Chocolate toxicity depends on the size of the dog and the amount of chocolate eaten.

Here is the link to a very helpful interactive chocolate toxicity chart from National Geographic. You can scroll down to find the weight of your dog and see the corresponding amounts of types of chocolate that can cause symptoms ranging from mild to dangerous and even fatal. Basically, I found out the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. And the smaller the dog, the more toxic it is.

Sir Pooch weighs 40 pounds, so if he ate five and a half ounces of milk chocolate, he could have symptoms of nausea. If he injested ten ounces it could cause rapid heartbeats. A little more, and he could have tremors and seizures. At 27 ounces, he would be at risk of dying. In reality, he ate only four ounces, the amount in a jumbo Hershey bar. Not good for him but not fatal. He was and is just fine, but we definitely had a scare, and I would have felt much better if I had an emergency vet to consult. (Now I do; read on.)

A professional opinion from Dr. Greg: What to do if your dog eats chocolate.

Dr. Greg Magnusson, owner of Leo's Pet Care, gives these instructions: "1) phone your vet to find out if he/she thinks your dog has ingested a toxic dose. Be prepared to give the volume of chocolate and type to the vet. 2) If your vet tells you to make your dog throw up, follow their directions. If she says to bring your dog in, do it." Dr. Greg, whose animal clinic is in Carmel, Indiana, does provide emergency vet treatment, and even makes house calls. So, if you're in or near Indianapolis Indiana, keep his number on hand: 317-721-7387

Sources:
Yahoo! Answers
National Geographic
Dr. Greg Magnussun, Leo's Pet Care,
10598 N College Ave Ste 200
Indianapolis IN 46280
317-721-7387