It is very common for us to consider offering our dogs homemade food or products that we especially like, such as sweets. However, before giving them anything we have to inform ourselves well to avoid prohibited foods for dogs. And that includes chocolate. So, if you're wondering if dogs can eat chocolate, the answer is no.
As we will explain in this article on our site, chocolate is toxic to dogs, although the severity of the damage it can cause depends on the amount and type of chocolate the dog eats, as well as of its size. We explain all the details below.
Is chocolate bad for dogs?
Yes, we can say that chocolate is bad for dogs because cocoa contains two toxic substances for them. They are theobromine and the much better known caffeine. Both are alkaloids, specifically methylxanthines. In addition, chocolate also contains sugars and fats, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the type. Sugar should never be part of the diet of dogs and excessive consumption of fats can cause an inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis, which is a serious disease that must be treated by the veterinarian.
Although the damage that chocolate can do to dogs will depend on the type, the amount consumed and the weight of the dog, just in case, in order not to run unnecessary risks, it is best, directly Do not include any chocolate in your diet, in any variety. Not even if your dog asks you to. Keep both chocolate and cocoa always out of reach.
What happens if a dog eats chocolate?
As we have advanced, chocolate can intoxicate a dog. In small doses it may not cause any problems, but in large quantities, depending on the dog's weight, will cause damage to his body that may even be deadly.
In addition, you have to take into account the type of chocolate Milk chocolate and, above all, white chocolate will have less percentage of cocoa and therefore less theobromine and caffeine. On the contrary, dark chocolate, the more cocoa it contains, the more dangerous it will be. Likewise, powdered cocoa and special cooking chocolate bars are considered more toxic.
As an example, a 10 kg dog can die if he ingests about 125 grams of this chocolate, which is not difficult if he manages to lick a good amount of the chocolate coating from a cake. In contrast, intoxication with white chocolate is unlikely, as it contains only 7 milligrams of theobromine per gram of chocolate compared to 3,640 milligrams in dark chocolate.
The toxic effects of chocolate are due to the fact that theobromine in dogs acts as a smooth muscle relaxant, dilates coronary arteries, has diuretic and cardiac stimulant effect. Caffeine, for its part, stimulates the nervous and cardiovascular systems. All this causes clinical signs in the dog that can be detected from a few hours after ingestion up to a day later.
Chocolate poisoning in dogs
Theobromine and caffeine in chocolate, in sufficient quantities, cause clinical signs at the nervous and cardiac level, especially, although there are more symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs that should put you on alert. We highlight the following:
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Nervousness.
- Uncoordinated.
- Fast breathing.
- Tremors.
- Seizures.
- Increase in water consumption.
- Increase in the amount of urine passed.
- Hypertension.
- Eat.
- Death.
My dog has eaten chocolate, what do I do? If your dog has eaten chocolate and shows any of these signs,urgently go to the vet , since only this professional can help you. There is no specific antidote, but a treatment can be prescribed with the intention of eliminating the toxins. This usually consists of inducing vomiting, if the ingestion has occurred less than two hours ago, supplying activated charcoal and performing a stomach lavage Fluid therapy is also started, the necessary drugs are administered to control the symptoms shown by the dog, such as anticonvulsants or sedatives, and cardiac function is monitored.
Is there chocolate for dogs?
On sale you can find some edible chocolate treats for dogs, such as cookies, tablets or drops, made specifically for them. Normally, they are made reducing the theobromine content of cocoa so that they never poison the dog. The problem is that they also usually contain other ingredients, such as sugars, fats or dairy products, which are better not to include in our dog's diet.
On the other hand, you can also make or find dog treats that look like chocolate, but are actually made with carob This fruit of the carob tree is characterized by its flavor and texture reminiscent of cocoa, with the advantage that dogs can consume it safely, since it is not toxic to them.
