Maria Allen
It is better not to feed your dog nougat or truffle pralines. Chocolate is toxic to your loved ones and can even kill you if consumed in large quantities.
Is chocolate toxic to dogs? You hear about it all the time, but many owners just don’t want to believe it. But even if we humans enjoy sweet treats so much: the alkaloid theobromine contained in the cocoa in chocolate triggers processes in the body of our four-legged friends that can become life-threatening.
What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Four-Legged Friends?
Chocolate is poisonous for dogs because the substance it contains completely upsets the central nervous system of the four-legged friend. Cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made, contain theobromine. When snacking, this substance passes through the dog’s intestines into the blood and from there into the liver. It sets metabolic processes in motion that are devastating for the dog. Theobromine inhibits adenosine receptors and phosphodiesterase. As a result, more stress hormones are released. Sintomas de envenenamento por chocolate em cães include diarrhea and vomiting. In addition to theobromine, chocolate also contains caffeine, which is also toxic to dogs.
Dark Chocolate is Particularly Toxic to Dogs
Not only is chocolate toxic to dogs, but it also takes an above-average amount of time for the four-legged friends to break down the dangerous substance theobromine again. Dogs with chocolate poisoning experience convulsions and are restless. Your body reacts clearly to even small amounts of theobromine. The amount of chocolate that is toxic to dogs depends on how big and heavy the four-legged friends are. If your dog has eaten the candy, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible to treat chocolate poisoning in your dog.
In addition, each type of chocolate contains a different percentage of cocoa. The more it is, the more likely it is that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Dark or dark chocolate is particularly dangerous for four-legged friends. It contains the most cocoa and therefore the highest concentration of theobromine. For the production of white chocolate, on the other hand, no cocoa is used at all. That’s why it doesn’t contain theobromine. Nevertheless: it is better to treat your darling to something good by giving him a treat for dogs. And if you want something sweet, try special dog chocolate.