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My Dog Ate Chocolate: How Much is Toxic?

Dogs > First Aid > My Dog Ate Chocolate: How Much is Toxic?

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While a chocolate dog may be great treat for you, chocolate is dangerous to dogs. Chocolate contains the xanthene compound theobromine, which harms the cardiovascular, nervous and renal systems of a dog.
Symptoms of Chocolate Toxicity

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity include:

hyper-excitability and hyper-irritability;
increased heart rate, restlessness and urination;
muscle tension and tremors.

Complications include hypothermia, seizures, cardiac arrest, even death. Death can result from intoxication.
Treatment for Chocolate Consumption

No antidote exists for chocolate poisoning in a dog, however you can try:

Inducing vomiting within two hours of chocolate ingestion blocks its digestion.
Activated charcoal given orally prevents absorption of chocolate during digestion.
Seizure control medications, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids and other measures mitigate the most serious effects of chocolate toxicity in a dog.

Chocolate Toxic Levels

A nibble of chocolate is not necessarily life-threatening, but larger amounts can be. Theobromine is toxic to a dog if ingested in quantities of 100 to 150mg/kg. Theobromine content in milk chocolate is 6 mg/oz; in semi-sweet chocolate, 22 mg/oz; and,in baking chocolate, 35 to 45 mg/oz. Milk chocolate poses a relatively minor risk, but causes diarrhea in a dog, which must be treated all the same. To be on the safe side, an owner should never feed chocolate of any kind, in any amount, to a dog.

also see Common Kitchen Foods That Can Poison Your Dog

also see Dog Poisoning: Be Aware of Everyday Dangers

also see Dog Poisoning Symptoms Beyond Vomiting

also see Poisoning and Toxicosis in Dogs