Many dog ​​owners often love to spoil their pets with different treats. Shares his food from the table. Especially when the dog looks straight into his mouth with his pitying eyes. But veterinarians categorically forbid treating pets with food prepared for humans. Chocolate is one of the most banned foods. Even if you really want to sweeten the life of your beloved pet, this must be abandoned. Therefore, to the frequently asked question: “Can dogs be fed sweet chocolate?” - the answer is simple. No, chocolate should never be given to dogs.

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?

The owner should know that chocolate is bad for the health of our four-legged friends. If a pet eats chocolate, regardless of white, milky or bitter, then his health will certainly worsen, with large doses death can occur. This is due to the fact that alkaloids are dangerous for animals in sweets. But it's not just them. Let's break down the ingredients to be sure.

Substances harmful to the health of dogs contained in chocolate bars

1. The most dangerous are alkaloids. In simple terms, substances intoxicate the brain, which negatively affects the animal. The pet feels artificially induced pleasure. Yes, it is even useful for a person! Therefore, a small amount of chocolate for people relieves stress and improves mood.
2. Cocoa beans also contain caffeine, which is also an alkaloid. This substance is highly addictive. Animal under the influence of caffeine becomes excited, aggressive. Although regular chocolate contains a small amount of this product.
3. Cocoa beans contain tannins. It's good that they are few in number. They can cause various diseases in animals, as they have a negative effect on brain neurons. Therefore, it is worth thinking before giving your pet a piece of milk chocolate.
4. IN chocolates there are acids, a small amount of protein and minerals, which is bad for the animal's body.

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs

Note! Even a small piece of chocolate is dangerous. It was said above that sweetness contains alkaloids. The most dangerous is theobromine. It harms the circulatory system of the dog, which can lead to death. Even 5 mg of theobromine can harm the health of a furry pet. Therefore, you should not tempt fate. If you go to any veterinary forum, you can read that if the dog ate a sweet bar in an unlimited amount, you must urgently take her to the hospital. Now think about whether it is possible for a dog to eat delicious chocolate.

What to do if the dog ate a large amount of chocolate

For most dogs, real chocolate is an attractive treat. Pets of different breeds will happily devour the found chocolate bar, which the irresponsible owners left in an accessible place. And your pet doesn't care if it's white chocolate or a piece of milk chocolate, or dark bitter chocolate. Pets, having found a sweet tile, will eat it without a trace, and, consequently, severe poisoning will occur. It is good if the owner is nearby and recognizes the symptoms of poisoning.

Symptoms of food poisoning

You'll know right away if sweet chocolate can be eaten by dogs when you know what symptoms it can cause. The toxic dose of sweetness that can lead to death depends on the breed of dog, how much it weighs a kilogram, and on the manufacturer of the chocolate bar. If a pet weighs 20 kilograms, then finding real chocolate, namely a standard 100 gram bar and eating it, it is guaranteed to get chocolate poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning will begin to appear gradually.

1. Diarrhea will occur first. Then nausea and vomiting. The main thing is not to give her drugs that block these symptoms. It is important that the pet's body itself fights the disease and cleanses itself of a product harmful to it.
2. The pet becomes hyperactive. He constantly runs, jumps, barks incessantly, in a word becomes active and excited.
3. Another symptom that shows that something is wrong with the dog is frequent urination. The veterinary forum says that at this moment of poisoning, you need to urgently go to the clinic.
4. If a four-legged friend ate a chocolate bar along with foil, then the abdominal cavity swells due to intestinal obstruction.
5. Further, the body temperature becomes higher than normal. The animal begins to breathe heavily and get confused in space.
6. If you do not provide first aid for the above symptoms, the pet may experience convulsions in the first 32 hours.
7. On the second day, the pet dies. Well, what do you think? Can you give dogs chocolate?

Providing first aid to pets in case of poisoning

Timely medical assistance will save the life of your pet. If you do not take the dog to the veterinary clinic in a timely manner, then his health will be at zero. From the half-life of theobromine, health will deteriorate, and the animal will fall into a coma, and then death will occur. Only a qualified veterinarian will be able to cure a pet of a serious poisoning. Therefore, the main thing is not to panic, but to quickly pack up and go to the clinic for professional help.

As soon as the first symptoms of poisoning appear, go to the veterinarian. No need to wait for everything to pass, of course. It will be too late when the coma sets in. Depending on what breed your pet has, the doctor will prescribe the right treatment. Also important is the age and how quickly you reacted and brought the fluffy to the clinic. A responsible owner should know that only professional help will save the life of defenseless pets.

Even if you don't give your dogs sweets, it may happen that they have found the chocolate bar themselves. Therefore, it is necessary to know what help can be provided at the first symptoms at home. But only at the initial stage of poisoning. The main thing is not to interfere with the body of the animal to cope with the trouble. You can not use antiemetics - this is a strict rule. Vomiting should be increased so that toxic substances leave the body faster.

To stimulate the gag reflex, a solution based on soda or salt is used. It is necessary to pour 500 milliliters of warm water into a bowl, and then add 2 tablespoons of salt or soda. If the dog refuses to drink on its own, gently pour into the mouth. As soon as the vomiting becomes free of impurities, sorbents, such as activated charcoal, should be given. After important point- go to the veterinary clinic.

What Can Your Pet Eat Instead of Chocolate?

We have already found out that chocolate is poisonous to a pet. But if the dog loves sweets and asks for regular chocolate, then it can be replaced. To maintain the health of a four-legged pet, veterinarians advise adding the following foods to a complete diet:

1. Instead of giving a small piece of a candy bar, indulge in fruit instead. Fresh you can apple, banana, raspberry, blackberry. It is better not to abuse dried fruits, as they contain sucrose. But if the dog asks, then you can feed in small quantities. Grapes and raisins should not be consumed by animals, as they negatively affect the health of vital organs.
2. Tea spoon natural honey This is the best sweet substitute. But do not forget that everything should be in moderation.
3. A four-legged friend can occasionally eat seeds and nuts. Frequent use of these products will lead to obesity.

I hope we answered your question: “Can a dog eat chocolate?”. If a pet has a sweet tooth, then it is easy to find a replacement for it. Even a small amount of chocolate will harm your pet's health, so it's not worth the risk.

Incredible Facts

Chocolate in surprisingly small amounts can seriously affect your dog's health, causing death in some cases. Reportedly, veterinarians around the world repeatedly encounter cases of severe intoxication in their practice in our smaller brothers, caused by the consumption of certain doses of chocolate. Moreover, the greatest danger to animals is the so-called healthy dark chocolate (healthy for humans), although milk chocolate can also be a deadly poison. Everything depends on the dose.

Why is chocolate so dangerous for dogs? How much chocolate should your pet eat for it to become intoxicated? What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs? And finally, what should be done if your four-legged friend ate a healthy dose of chocolate? You will find answers to all these questions in this article.

As you know, the most toxic components of chocolate are caffeine and theobromine. It is theobromine, which is found in high concentration in this delicacy, and causes the highest number of poisonings among dogs. The problem is that theobromine affects the animal's digestive system, nervous system (brain), as well as the cardiovascular system (including the lungs and heart) and kidneys in a complex.

The symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs depend on the amount of chocolate eaten, the type of chocolate, and how long ago the chocolate was eaten. The most common symptoms of such poisoning are gastrointestinal manifestations, such as indigestion, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is not uncommon to observe increased activity of the animal, restlessness, increased heart rate, as well as frequent urination and a desire to drink. The most severe symptoms occur when the nervous system is affected. In this case, seizures, fever, rapid breathing, increased body temperature (hyperthermia) and even coma can occur.

Chocolate weighing 140 grams contains 250 mg of theobromine. Definitely toxic and potentially fatal to a dog's life is a dose of chocolate that contains 60 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of the animal's weight. Thus, a dog that weighs 4.5 kilograms will only need to eat a bar of chocolate, which contains 300 milligrams of theobromine, to start intoxication. Clinical symptoms will be noticeable already after consuming 20 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of weight(a dog with the same weight - 4.5 kilograms - will begin to show signs of poisoning after consuming one hundred grams). At the same time, serious symptoms can be recorded after consuming 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (that is, after two hundred grams of chocolate for the given example).

So, if we are talking about, say, a poodle weighing 4.5 kilograms, even one bar of milk chocolate containing 250 milligrams of theobromine can be fatal for such a dog. At the same time, a dog weighing up to 40 kilograms or more (e.g. golden retriever), will have to eat as many as 8 bars of milk chocolate for serious symptoms of poisoning to appear. At the same time, dark chocolate and confectionery chocolate are much more toxic! For the same retriever, only three bars of dark chocolate can be fatal.

How to help a dog poisoned by chocolate?

If your pet has eaten chocolate, you should try to find out exactly how much of this delicacy was eaten. Then, given the type of chocolate, as well as taking into account the information provided earlier in this article, it remains only to estimate how high the probability of toxic poisoning of the animal is. If the dose of chocolate exceeded 20 milligrams per kilogram of the animal's weight, it is necessary to induce vomiting in the animal (at home or by visiting a veterinary office).

If we talk about ways to induce vomiting in your pet, then you can use hydrogen peroxide - one teaspoon for every 4.5 kilograms of the dog's weight. If such a dose does not cause vomiting in the animal within 10 minutes, it is necessary to repeat the emetic. At the same time, some experts do not recommend using more than two repetitions when it comes to hydrogen peroxide. You can also use a saline solution: one teaspoon of salt to one tablespoon of water. This is a dose for every 4.5 kilograms of animal weight. If you are unable to induce vomiting in your dog, or if the animal is experiencing excessive vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and fever, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately.

So, as you can see, not everything that brings pleasure and joy to people is useful to our smaller brothers. And if you have taken on the responsibility of taking care of your four-legged friend, you should also be attentive to his diet. Make sure your dog doesn't accidentally eat even a small piece of chocolate. (not to mention giving her chocolate on purpose!). Be vigilant in relation to the health of your dog, be able to recognize the symptoms of poisoning and learn the rules of first aid. Otherwise, even a small oversight can cost your pet a life.

Yes, chocolate is poisonous to dogs. While poisoning is rarely fatal, chocolate can cause significant harm to a dog if ingested. Chocolate is poisonous due to the methylxanthine theobromine it contains. Theobromine is similar to caffeine and is used medicinally as a diuretic, heart stimulant, and muscle relaxant. Theobromine is poisonous and without treatment leads to serious ailments.

How much chocolate is poisonous to a dog?

Theobromine becomes poisonous after an approximate dose of 20mg per kg of dog weight when the dog becomes agitated, hyperactive and has various gastrointestinal symptoms (salivation, vomiting, diarrhea). At doses greater than 40 mg/kg, cardiac symptoms such as palpitations, high blood pressure, and even arrhythmias appear. At doses greater than 60 mg/kg, neurological symptoms appear, such as tremors, twitches and convulsions. Doses greater than 100-200 mg/kg, or if complications occur from lower doses, can be fatal to the dog.

The amount of theobromine depends on the type of chocolate. Dark and bitter chocolate is more dangerous for dogs than regular chocolate. High quality dark chocolate contains 130 to 450 mg of theobromine per ounce, while regular milk chocolate contains only about 50 mg per ounce. Small amounts of white chocolate usually pose no threat of poisoning, however, the dog can still get sick as chocolate contains fats and sugars that can lead to pancreatitis.

What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning?

Clinical symptoms depend on the amount and type of chocolate. For most dogs, symptoms of poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea, thirst, panting, restlessness, excessive urination, rapid heartbeat, muscle spasms (tremors), and sometimes seizures. Older animals that have eaten large amounts of dark chocolate may have a heart attack, especially if they have heart disease. Complications such as aspiration pneumonia resulting from vomiting can make poisoning even more dangerous. If you are in doubt about your dog, contact your veterinarian immediately to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may develop within hours, but they take much longer to resolve. Symptoms may last several days, depending on the rate of elimination of theobromine. Theobromine can also be reabsorbed into the body from the bladder, so frequent walks are recommended.

What to do if the dog eats chocolate?

If you see your dog eating chocolate, call the animal helpline or your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian will advise you on the following steps. You may need to make your dog vomit even if it doesn't show any signs of poisoning. The faster the theobromine is removed from the dog's body, the less harm it will cause.

How to treat chocolate poisoning?

Treatment depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. If treatment is started early, either by gastric emptying or activated charcoal, then no further treatment is likely to be required. Activated charcoal may be used every 4-6 hours during the first 24 hours after poisoning to reduce absorption and further recycle theobromine.

Often, therapeutic treatment, such as insertion of an intravenous drip, is prescribed to reduce the effect of the toxin and promote its release. All dogs that have consumed chocolate should be carefully examined for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness, heart rhythm disturbances, and high blood pressure. Medicines are often used to slow the heart rate,

There are dog treats containing chocolate, aren't they dangerous?

Many dog ​​owners use chocolate substitutes such as carob. Some dog-friendly treats contain a small amount of milk chocolate, which, due to its low theobromine content, is safe for most dogs. However, veterinarians recommend avoiding feeding dogs any form of chocolate. Remember that the ingredients used in the products are listed in descending order by weight!

For most of us chocolate as well chocolate desserts- this is a favorite delicacy that threatens only our figure and teeth. Chocolate has pleasant taste and has some useful properties.

Many dog ​​owners have never heard that chocolate is potentially harmful to animals. The cocoa beans from which chocolate is made contain an alkaloid called theobromine. It is part of the caffeine group and is close to it in action.

For humans, this substance is safe, since the human body contains enzymes that break down theobromine. Unlike humans, dogs are quite sensitive to caffeine and theobromine.

How much chocolate is dangerous?
Chocolate and confectionery products containing chocolate may contain varying amounts of theobromine. If arranged different types chocolate in descending order of the content of this dangerous substance in them, we get the following list:

1. cocoa beans.
2. cocoa powder.
3. Bitter chocolate.
4. Milk chocolate.
5. White chocolate.

Each type of chocolate contains a certain amount of alkaloid, so it is quite difficult to accurately calculate the dangerous dose of the product. It is necessary to take into account the weight of the animal, its age and state of health, as well as individual sensitivity to chocolate.
Below, for clarity, are the calculations of the deadly dose of chocolate for theobromine. The lowest risk of poisoning occurs when eating white chocolate: 25 kg of this product contains a dangerous dose of alkaloid for a dog weighing 10 kg. Milk chocolate has an average level of theobromine, and potentially dangerous dose will be about 400-800 grams for an animal with the same weight. The largest amount of alkaloid is found in dark chocolate, already 60-100 grams can cause the death of a dog. But this does not mean that a smaller amount of chocolate can be given to a dog as a treat. Toxic effects are observed when using a dose 2-3 times less than the lethal one. In addition, it must be borne in mind that after tasting chocolate once, the dog enters the taste and asks for more and more.

Signs and symptoms of poisoning.
It should be remembered that chocolate is digested much more slowly in dogs than in humans. Because of this, symptoms may appear many hours after the chocolate has been eaten. Therefore, even in the complete absence of symptoms, the animal should not be left unattended. In most cases, they appear 3-5 hours after eating chocolate, but the first signs of poisoning may occur within 24 hours.

If you notice symptoms of chocolate poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately!

First, the dog develops spastic (caused by spasm) abdominal pain and vomiting. Vomit, in most cases, contains a sufficiently large amount of chocolate, giving them a characteristic smell. Vomiting may be accompanied by salivation, and increased urination, less often diarrhea. Also, poisoning is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, rapid breathing and heartbeat, heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia). After 2-4 hours, excitation develops, muscle tremors, susceptibility to noise, light and touch increases.

Subsequently, convulsions develop, loss of balance and impaired coordination are observed. In case of severe poisoning, heart failure, coma and death may occur. Death can occur within 6-36 hours after eating chocolate.

Forecast.
The prognosis directly depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. In the case of providing timely qualified assistance in the first hours after poisoning, a complete restoration of the general condition of the animal is possible. With the development of seizures or arrhythmia, the prognosis is unfavorable.
Dogs with health problems are more susceptible to chocolate poisoning. Against the background of poisoning, the development of pancreatitis, hepatic and. In dogs with epilepsy, chocolate can provoke the development of another epileptic seizure. In severe cases, it is possible to develop a bleeding disorder, which manifests itself in the form of hemorrhages in the mucous membranes, and in such vital organs as the heart, liver, brain and kidneys.
Chocolate poisoning can lead to serious consequences for the cardiovascular and central nervous system, which, in turn, can lead to death.

Treatment.
Theobromine has no specific antidote and is mainly treated with symptomatic therapy used for poisoning.

Don't wait for symptoms to appear. Treatment should start as early as possible!

If the dog has eaten chocolate recently, it should be called. In the first 4 hours, an effective measure is gastric lavage, followed by the intake of adsorbents. Intestinal adsorbents (enterosgel) slow down or prevent the absorption of toxic substances from the intestines.
Based on the results of the examination of your dog and the laboratory tests performed in each individual case, the veterinarian will draw up a treatment plan based on the expected amount of chocolate eaten and the symptoms identified. Drugs will be prescribed to help reduce the effect of theobromine on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. With a convulsive syndrome, in order to stop (eliminate) an attack, it may even be necessary to use general anesthesia (narcosis).
To correct dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea, as well as to maintain the function of the liver, pancreas and other organs, intensive therapy using intravenous infusions is recommended.
The sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is to save the animal's life. Due to the slow deactivation of theobromine in dogs, the effects of chocolate poisoning can last for quite a long time (up to 3 days), so your dog may need to be hospitalized for the entire duration.

Preventive measures.
Prevention of such poisoning is a reasonable attitude of the owner towards the dog. Make sure that your dog cannot get to chocolate and chocolate products, store them in a place inaccessible to the animal.
No matter how your dog begs for a piece of chocolate treat, don't give it anything.

Chocolate is not dog food.

If you want to pamper your pet, treat him to a special chocolate for dogs without cocoa and sugar. For dogs prone to allergies, a special white chocolate has been developed (consult your veterinarian before use).

I have heard more than once that it is better not to feed a dog with chocolate, but why is it so bad for her?

Some dogs seem to be ready to eat anything, especially sweets! But why is chocolate, this delicious and healthy product for humans, harmful to dogs? This question is answered by Kira Black, patron of Global Animal from the Canine Relief Alliance. Read on for why she thinks chocolate is bad for dogs and what to do if your puppy gets into a bag of chocolates.

Dog and chocolate is not the best combination. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine. It is a chemical stimulant that belongs to the same group as caffeine and theophylline. Theobromine, found in cocoa beans, can cause increased urination in a dog, affects the nervous system and heart, and can eventually lead to cardiac arrest.

Chocolates are different depending on the amount of theobromine they contain, but even a small dose can cause big problems for you and your dog. The longer a dog's body is affected by theobromine, the more harm it can bring, especially when it comes to a puppy. To date, there is no known antidote for chocolate poisoning, so getting your dog to the vet on time is essential. During the first few hours, symptoms may not appear at all, and in the future they can be confused with various diseases.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning to look out for include:

• Vomit
• Diarrhea
• Hyperactivity
• Restlessness
• Increasing water consumption
• Increased urination
• Asphyxiation
• Muscle spasms
• Increased heart rate
• Blue/grey gum color

What to do if your dog ate too much chocolate?

There are several ways to alleviate the condition of the dog in case of chocolate poisoning. It all depends on the amount of chocolate eaten and its type.

The first thing to do before you go to the vet is to collect all the necessary information:

• What kind of chocolate did the dog eat? Monoblock? Chocolate biscuit? White chocolate?
• How much chocolate are we talking about (this is usually indicated by the remains of a torn package)?
• How much does your dog weigh?
• Are any of the symptoms of poisoning present?
• How long has it been since the dog ate the chocolate?

In the event that we are talking about dark chocolate eaten in a critical amount for the dog (depending on the age and weight of the animal), it is necessary to induce vomiting. This method is recommended during the first few hours after the incident. If more than 12 hours have passed, it is dangerous to induce vomiting as it can damage your dog's esophagus.

Types of chocolate

The amount of theobromine varies depending on the type of chocolate. Some types of chocolate do not pose a serious risk to your dog, but they can trigger bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. At the same time, other types of chocolate can cause serious injury and death if medical attention is not provided in time.

Below are the types of chocolate from the least harmful to the most dangerous:

• White chocolate
• Milk chocolate
• Black chocolate
• bitter chocolate

100 grams of white chocolate contains about 3.6 mg of theobromine, while confectionery dark chocolate contains about 166 mg of theobromine per 100 grams. This is a huge difference and can be a big factor when analyzing your dog's symptoms.

The following is a rough estimate of the toxic doses of chocolate for dogs.