Dogs and Chocolate: Why It Is So Dangerous
Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs. In the worst case it can even be fatal. Owners should therefore refrain from sharing chocolate with dogs.
This applies without exception and also to very small quantities. In the following, we'll explain why this is so and what alternatives to chocolate you can actually do your dog good with.
Why your dog should not eat chocolate
The metabolism of your dog differs in some points very clearly from your own. This applies not only to its general nutrient requirements, but also with regard to various enzymes in the dog friend's body.
And this is exactly the reason why your dog should never eat chocolate. Because chocolate contains the alkaloid theobromine. Theobromine has a similar stimulating effect as caffeine, but can also have toxic effects when dosed in higher doses.
That the consumption of chocolate is nevertheless safe for humans is due to enzymes that break down the theobromine in the body. However, dogs lack these enzymes, so even small amounts of chocolate can be dangerous.
Which quantity leads to chocolate poisoning in dogs
From which amount of chocolate is dangerous for dogs depends on the size of the four-legged friend and the type of chocolate. Because the fatal dose of theobromine for dogs is about 300 mg per kilo of body weight.
Even if symptoms of poisoning already occur at significantly lower doses, a 50 kilo Rottweiler can therefore in principle tolerate a larger amount of chocolate than a very small dog, such as a dachshund.
In addition, not every chocolate contains the same amount of theobromine. While dark chocolate contains about 16 mg per 100 grams, milk chocolate contains just 2.3 mg per 100 grams, and white chocolate is almost free of theobromine.
What are the consequences of eating chocolate for dogs?
If your dog eats chocolate, this leads, among other things, to an increased transmission of stimuli between nerve cells and to an increase in pulse rate and blood pressure. This leads to symptoms such as palpitations, restlessness, trembling and seizures.
It usually takes two to four hours after eating chocolate before the theobromine has spread in the body. Depending on the severity of the chocolate poisoning, symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and increased drinking usually occur first.
Heart rhythm disturbances, circulation problems and disturbances of consciousness are possible with the appropriate dosage. If the dog has eaten enough chocolate for a lethal dose of theobromine, it will die within 12 to 36 hours without treatment by respiratory arrest, overheating or cardiac arrest.
Treatment of chocolate poisoning in dogs
A dog with chocolate or theobromine poisoning is without exception a case for the veterinarian. If the chocolate has just been ingested, you can counteract the spread of theobromine by giving him charcoal tablets.
But even then you should not waste any time and take your dog to the vet immediately. To avoid waiting times on site, it is advisable to announce your arrival by telephone in advance. Ideally, you should also bring the chocolate packaging with you and be able to tell the vet how much your dog has eaten.
This makes it easier for the vet to estimate the amount of theobromine in the body and the danger to the four-legged friend.
To treat chocolate poisoning, the veterinarian will probably make your dog vomit. He may also give him charcoal tablets and, if necessary, medicine to treat seizures and restlessness. In addition, it may be necessary to speed up excretion via the kidneys using infusions.
Is dog chocolate a good alternative?
To let your dog enjoy chocolate, many owners rely on dog chocolate as an alternative. As it contains hardly any theobromine, it is basically harmless for your dog.
However, dog chocolate resembles normal chocolate already purely optically very much. This makes it much more likely that your dog, once he has acquired a taste for it, will also start eating normal chocolate in an unobserved moment.
After all, it is not possible for him to recognise that it is poisonous for him. The subject of dog chocolate should therefore be treated with caution.
Healthy snacks instead of chocolate for dogs
Small treats should be a part of a dog's everyday life. Snacks make dogs happy and help in training them.
In the Bellfor range you will find a large selection of tasty and above all healthy dog snacks as an ideal alternative to chocolate for dogs. Thanks to carefully selected ingredients and the complete absence of artificial ingredients, our snacks are the ideal companion for you and your dog.
Try our delicious soft snacks, high-quality dried meat or gently baked dog biscuits. We are certain that your dog will love our products as much as we do.
Dogs and chocolate - our conclusion
Chocolate has no place on your dog's menu. Even special dog chocolate is only conditionally suitable to give your dog a treat in between meals.
Try using more suitable dog snacks so that your dog doesn't even get the taste of chocolate in the first place, thus minimising the risk of life-threatening theobromine poisoning.
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