Mary Allen
Mmhhmmm, chocolate is simply delicious. It’s easy to be tempted to share it with your dog. But paws away, because that can have deadly consequences!
Why is chocolate so dangerous?
The culprit in chocolate is called theobromine. The substance is harmless to humans but can have fatal consequences for dogs.
The darker the plaque, the more poison it contains. A bar of dark chocolate contains around 1.6 grams of theobromine. Even a dose of 0.09 to 0.25 grams per kilogram of body weight can be fatal in dogs.
For example, if dog B. weighs 6 kilograms, the lethal dose is 1.5 grams. A bar of dark chocolate can therefore lead to death. Smaller dog breeds and puppies are particularly at risk because of their low weight.
Anyone who now thinks that he can give smaller amounts without hesitation is wrong: the regular supply of small amounts is just as dangerous for the dog since the toxin breaks down very slowly and can therefore accumulate in the blood.
How do you know if your dog has poisoned itself?
Typical symptoms of theobromine poisoning are nervousness, tremors, fever, cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Cardiovascular failure occurs in severe poisoning.
What should you do if your dog ate chocolate?
Be sure to see a vet immediately! This will usually trigger vomiting in order to get as much chocolate as possible out of the dog’s stomach. He may also give activated charcoal to prevent the poison in the intestine from passing into the blood. An infusion dilutes the poison that has already entered the blood.
A gastric torsion in a dog is an absolute emergency and the animal needs immediate veterinary help! Read here how to recognize the torsion of the stomach.
How fast do you have to act?
Be sure to get to the vet as soon as possible. If the dog is treated within the first four hours after eating, it has a good chance of escaping without permanent damage. The longer you wait, the greater the damage to the organs and the worse the chances of survival.
How can you prevent poisoning?
Be careful and always store chocolate out of your dog’s reach. This is the easiest and safest way.
What can you give your sweet tooth to snack on instead?
If your dog just loves the taste of chocolate, you can give them a safe treat: canine chocolate is well accepted by most animals and is a completely safe substitute.