Vetstoria

Cocoa seeds, which is used to make chocolate, contain a substance called theobromine.

Theobromine belongs to the chemical family of:

• Caffeine - which is found in coffee
• Theophylline - which is found in tea

Why can we eat chocolate and dogs can’t?

Humans can clear the theobromine quickly from their system while dogs struggle to get rid of it:

• The theobromine stays in the blood stream of our pets for 2, sometimes 3 days
• The theobromine has enough time to trigger toxic effects in dogs

The amount of chocolate necessary to trigger toxic effects in a dog depends on several factors:

• Size of the dog
• Type of chocolate (% cocoa solids)
• Ability to metabolise theobromine

Rough Guide:

1. 50g milk chocolate bar - 20% cocoa solids

2. 25g dark chocolate bar - 85% of cocoa solids

Also remember that in some susceptible individuals, it may be even less.

What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning?

Symptoms are most commonly seen within 12 hours of the ingestion of chocolate. The first symptoms of poisoning are:

• Excitement
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Muscle spasms
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination

These signs can progress to:

• Heart problems (fast heart rate)
• Fitting
• Coma
• Death

If you suspect chocolate poisoning you need to contact your vet asap.

- Within 2 hours of ingestion:

• The vet will make your dog sick to empty the stomach.

- If it is too late for that, the situation is rather more complex:

• No antidote
• Hospitalisation
• Intravenous fluids
• Monitoring the heart problems
• Control the fitting

Chocolate poisoning is a very real threat to your dog.

Don't encourage him to develop a taste for any type of chocolate even the "safe" forms by feeding them as treats. Put away any loose chocolates and partially eaten bars.

Also be aware that cocoa bean mulch, used for landscaping contains the toxin. It has an attractive smell and some dogs will eagerly eat large amounts of the mulch and therefore get poisoned in this way.

Finally it is important to mention that although the most common victims are dogs. Cats, especially kittens, as well as horses, parrots and rodents are all susceptible to chocolate and may get poisoned just like dogs.