Why Chocolate is a Poison to Your Dog

Dogs love chocolate.

You can't really blame them. We humans are more than a little fond of chocolate, too.

But, while eating a few extra pieces of chocolate might mean a few extra days at the gym for us, for a dog, chocolate can be deadly.

There was a case where a dog ate most of a chocolate cake, along with the knife that had been used to cut it. And the veterinarian was more concerned about the chocolate the dog had eaten than the knife in its stomach. Which goes to show how dangerous chocolate can be to a dog.

Dogs don't have the ability to properly metabolize theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate. Once in a dog's body, theobromine becomes toxic, and the dog is poisoned as a result. Eating chocolate can cause a dog to suffer kidney damage, seizures, and even death.

When Should You Take Your Dog to the Vet?

How much chocolate a dog has to consume in order for it to be harmful depends on several different factors, like your dog's weight, age, and general health.

If you have a large dog, and he manages to get hold of a couple of M&Ms, he'll probably be fine. But if your dog manages to eat an entire bar of baker's chocolate, or an entire chocolate cake, you should get him to the vet immediately.

What Are the Signs of Poisoning?

If your dog has eaten chocolate, and you're not sure whether or not it was enough to warrant a trip to the vet, there are certain symptoms you should watch out for.

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, those could be signs that he may have been poisoned. So can an increased need to urinate. If your dog becomes lethargic, or starts to experience muscle tremors, you should get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Most of the time, symptoms of poisoning will appear within two hours of your dog ingesting chocolate. But, in some cases, it can take up to twenty-four hours for signs of poisoning to appear. So, keep a close eye on your dog for at least twenty-four hours after they've eaten chocolate.

Even if you don't take your dog to the vet, it won't hurt to give your dog's veterinarian a call. Let them know what happened, and ask for advice on what you should do.

An Ounce of Prevention

Your dog and chocolate can be a lethal combination. The best way to protect your dogs is to keep chocolate away from them at all times.

Don't leave chocolate cake, candy, or cookies on tables low enough for your dog to reach.

And make sure everyone in your home knows how important it is to pick up any chocolate they might drop on the floor, where your dog can easily get to it.

Sometimes, when you're eating a chocolate bar and your dog is giving you those puppy-dog eyes, it might seem tempting to give them a little treat. But your reward for resisting this temptation will be a happy, healthy dog.