By Dr G.R.Baranidharan, M.V.Sc (Medicine);
Dr S.M. Aravind Kumar,M.V.Sc(Surgery);
Dr Afzal H Mohamed, D.V.C.S. *

After years of small animal practice we’ve heard this many times from dog owners that they give chocolates as treats to their dogs. But do you realise that you are poisoning your beloved one!

This is definitely quite scary, but to begin with I should tell you that one of the ingredients of chocolate is theobromine that in the long run might poison your pets.

What happens in theobromine toxicity? This is an alkaloid that cannot be metabolized quickly by dogs. If a dog ingests a large amount of chocolate, the theobromine can build up and reach toxic levels.

The symptoms are usually vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms and death in severe cases.

Why is chocolate dangerous?

The fact is it is the bitter seeds, packed with theobromine and caffeine, which are used to make chocolates. Here is some information about chocolate ingredients:

But why is it not harmful to humans?

The scientific fact is that humans can break down and excrete theobromine much more efficiently than dogs, rendering it effectively harmless.

How much chocolate will harm my pet?

Toxic doses of theobromine are 9mg per pound of dog for mild signs and up to 18mg per pound of dog for severe signs. The lethal dosage of theobromine in dogs is between 250 and 500 mgs/kg. Milk chocolate contains 44mg/ounce of theobromine while semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/ounce and baking chocolate contains 390mg/ounce. It takes nearly 4 days for the effects of chocolate to work its way out of a dog’s system.

The other ironical thing is the fat content in chocolates. Sometimes we eat chocolate plain. Sometimes we eat it baked into cakes, mixed into ice cream etc. The first problem with these sweets is the fat.  A sudden high fat meal can create a lethal metabolic disease called “pancreatitis.”  Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are just the beginning of this disaster. Remember, in the case of pancreatitis, it is the fat that causes the problem more than the chocolate itself.

First aid for toxicity:

If your dog eats potentially dangerous amounts of chocolate and you can get the pet to your vet within two hours, vomiting can be induced to remove the poison. If longer than two hours have passed, the animal may need to be seen and treated until the chocolate has worked its way out of the system.

So, switch over to a more healthy treat for your doggie right now.