Understanding the Dangers of Chocolate to Dogs
It’s common household knowledge at this point — dogs should not be allowed to eat chocolate. While many pet parents are aware of this knowledge, most do not know why it is that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Why is it that chocolate is fine for us to eat but the same can’t be said about our dogs? Read on to learn more about why chocolate is bad for dogs.
What Makes Chocolate Toxic?
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which are methylxanthines. While humans are sensitive to these compounds, dogs are much more sensitive than we are. You don’t need to know much more about these compounds other than the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more methylxanthines it contains, making it more and more dangerous to doggos. For example, a half pound of milk chocolate would sicken a 50-pound dog, but a dog of the same size would be poisoned by just one ounce of Baker’s chocolate.
Why Can Humans Eat Chocolate?
Humans have mechanisms to break down and excrete methylxanthines like theobromine, which means that we can have chocolate without worrying about it being toxic. Caffeine has less of an impact on us as well. While our dogs often share surprising similarities with us humans, differences in our diets do exist. It’s important to be mindful of these differences, as well as other dog poisons often found in homes, when raising your pup. Turns out, our diets aren’t as similar to our dogs’ as we may expect! There are some foods that dogs and humans can both munch on, but chocolate isn’t one of them.
Symptoms of Chocolate Consumption in Dogs
Chocolate consumption can lead to a number of concerning symptoms. Here are the top symptoms to look out for if your dog consumes chocolate:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Increased body temperature
- Increased reflex responses
- Rapid breathing
- Muscle rigidity
- Seizures
- Cardiac failure, weakness, coma
If your dog does happen to consume chocolate, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-213-6680. They’ll be able to instruct you on steps to take moving forward.