It is that time of year again and from now until after New Year’s, there will be goodies galore. Our dogs see us eat them and smell them. Many dogs have a sweet tooth and the fat content in chocolate is enticing to boot!
Chocolate contains two compounds that are dangerous for dogs, theobromine and caffeine. The caffeine can cause tremors, increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, and other potentially lethal cardiovascular side effects, but theobromine is the more toxic of the two. There is a toxic level of theobromine that is lethal outright, even lower doses require medical treatment, since each individual can react differently.
If you notice that your dog has eaten chocolate, there are some important steps that you need to take, even before you see a vet.
1. Figure out which type of chocolate was eaten.
Because the different kinds of chocolate contain different amounts of the toxic components, your vet will be best equipped to advise you if you know which type. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are the least dangerous, then dark chocolate, and then baker’s chocolate which contains the highest theobromine levels.
2. Grab whatever remains of the packaging.
Bring the bag, the wrapper or anything that might be labeled with the ounces (or pounds) of chocolate in the package. Your vet will need to see what kind of wrapper or package was also eaten to check for it on the radiographs (x-rays) to make sure that the wrapper itself poses no risk of foreign body obstruction. Your veterinary professionals can then check the ingredient list for other possible dangerous items, like xylitol, a sugar substitute (which is extremely toxic also).
3. Try to estimate how much was ingested.
Try to remember if there was a full amount or if some had already been removed. Your vet can call Animal Poison Control if needed to find out the exact amount of theobromine was in your particular chocolate. If it was a full bag of assorted chocolates, your vet will be able to estimate the ingested amount based on what remains to best help your dog.
The best way to treat chocolate toxicosis is to prevent it completely. Never to assume your dog cannot reach something. Dogs climb the backs of chairs to leap to counter tops and then pull things off high shelves. They watch us all the time, soundlessly observing. They know when we are eating and they smell that it is something tempting. They watch where we store it and return to the spot when they are bored or hungry. Never underestimate a motivated canine. Scan the room for potential risks before you leave it to join in the festivities and warn all guests that your dog has a sweet tooth. Before you head to the vet with your chocolate eating dog, heed these three tips to make for the best chance of an uneventful recovery.
