Chocolate Poisoning

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

 Chocolate, as sweet as it is, is also very toxic to dogs.    

SOURCE & CAUSE(S)

Chocolate contains the alkaloid theobromine and this is what will cause the toxicity in dogs making them very sick.  Theobromine is poisonous when consumed in large quantities.  What kind of chocolate and how much was ingested will determine the toxicity level of the theobromine. 

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Symptoms will vary based on the amount and type of chocolate that was eaten.

Chocolate toxicity has been known to cause sudden death from cardiac arrest in older dogs with heart problems.  Also it can take up to twelve hours for symptoms to be visible, so if you know your dog has eaten chocolate, the best thing to do is get him/her to the vet right away. 

The most common symptoms are:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Panting
• Increased drinking and increased urination
• Seizures occasionally

TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT

Treatment is based on the amount of chocolate consumed and how much time has elapsed since the chocolate was consumed.  Your veterinarian will most likely induce vomiting if the amount is small enough that the majority of it can be removed from the stomach in this manner.  If several hours have passed since the chocolate was consumed, your veterinarian will likely administer activated charcoal through a stomach tube in an attempt to try and reduce the absorption of the theobromine in the system.  This will usually require a few days in the hospital.  

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