Chocolate Toxicity for Pets
Even though chocolate is a sweet and tasty dessert for humans, it can be extremely dangerous and even deadly for common house pets like dogs as well as cats. Chocolate is dangerous for dogs because it contains theobromine in addition caffeine, both of which are toxic for canines. If your dog ingests a large amount of chocolate, you need to seek medical attention immediately.
If you see your pet eat chocolate, it can be easy to overreact. Remember to stay calm and evaluate how much chocolate he or she has consumed. If you have any medical questions about your pet’s health after consuming chocolate or need the help of a professional veterinarian, visit your local Austin Veterinarian Clinic today.
Common Chocolate Products
The reason chocolate is nontoxic to humans as opposed to pets is because the human body can process the compound theobromine quickly, whereas dogs and other animals cannot. Due to the varying levels of theobromine in different chocolate products, there are certain types of chocolate that are much more dangerous to dogs than others. In order from most to least harmful, the ranking of chocolate product’s toxicity level is:
- Cocoa powder
- Unsweetened chocolate
- Cocoa bean mulch
- Semisweet chocolate
- Milk chocolate
- White chocolate
How Chocolate Affects an Animal’s Body
Theobromine is a stimulant for the nervous system and cardiovascular system. If consumed, it can have the following affects on a dog’s body:
- Increased blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Restlessness
- Hyperactivity
- Muscle tremors
To treat chocolate poisoning in dogs, you should induce vomiting in the first couple hours. However, this may not be enough to counteract the toxicity of the chocolate, so it may be important to seek medical help immediately.
Contact Us
The Austin Veterinarian Clinic is here to provide your pets with the best veterinarian care available. Contact us today to speak with a professional about chocolate poisoning and other pet health issues.