Many dog ​​owners often like to pamper their pets with different treats. Shares his food from the table. Especially when the dog looks straight into the mouth with its pitiful eyes. But veterinarians categorically forbid treating pets with food prepared for humans. Among the most forbidden foods is chocolate. Even if you really want to sweeten the life of your beloved pet, you need to give it up. Therefore, the frequently asked question: "Can dogs be fed with sweet chocolate?" - the answer is simple. No, chocolate should never be given to dogs.

Why chocolate is 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, milk or bitter, then his health will certainly deteriorate, with high doses it can be fatal. All due to the fact that in sweets there are alkaloids dangerous for animals. But it's not just them. Let's take a look at the composition to be sure.

Substances harmful to the health of dogs contained in the chocolate bar

1. The most dangerous are alkaloids. Speaking simple language, substances intoxicate the brain, which negatively affects the animal. The pet feels the artificially induced pleasure. Yes, it is even useful for a person! Therefore not a large number 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. An animal dominated by caffeine becomes agitated, aggressive. Although regular chocolate contains a small amount of this product.
3. Cocoa beans contain tannins. It is good that there are few of them. They can cause various diseases in animals, as they have a negative effect on brain neurons. Therefore, it is worth considering before giving your pet a piece of milk chocolate.
4. V chocolates there are acids, a small amount of protein and minerals, which is bad for the animal's body.

Chocolate is toxic 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 damages the dog's cardiovascular system, which can lead to death. Even 5 mg of theobromine can harm the health of a furry pet. Therefore, do not tempt fate. If you go to any veterinary forum, you can read that if a doggie ate a sweet bar in unlimited quantities, it is urgent to take her to the hospital. Now think about whether your dog can eat delicious chocolate.

What to do if your dog has eaten 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 irresponsible owners have left in an accessible place. And your pet does not care if it is 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, therefore, severe poisoning will ensue. It is good if the owner is near and recognizes the symptoms of poisoning.

Symptoms of sweet poisoning

You will know right away if sweet chocolate can be eaten by dogs when you learn what symptoms it can cause. The toxic dose of sweetness that can be fatal depends on the breed of the dog, how much it weighs in 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. First of all, diarrhea will occur. 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 is cleansed of the product harmful to it.
2. The pet becomes hyperactive. He constantly runs, jumps, barks incessantly, in a word, he becomes active and excited.
3. Another symptom that shows that something is wrong with the dog. frequent urination... The veterinary forum says that at this point of poisoning, an urgent need to go to the clinic.
4. If a four-legged friend ate a chocolate bar along with a foil, then the abdominal cavity is swollen due to intestinal obstruction.
5. Further, the body temperature becomes above 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 have seizures in the first 32 hours.
7. On the second day, the pet dies. Well, what do you think? Can dogs be given chocolate?

Providing first aid to pets if poisoning occurs

Timely medical assistance will save your pet's life. If you do not take the dog to the veterinary clinic in a timely manner, then its state of 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 can treat a pet from 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, by itself. It will be too late when the coma sets in. Depending on what breed your pet has, the doctor will prescribe the correct 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 do not give the dogs sweets, it may happen that they themselves found the chocolate. Therefore, you need 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 animal's body to cope with the trouble. Antiemetics should not be used - this is a strict rule. Vomiting needs to be increased so that toxic substances leave the body faster.

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

What can pets eat instead of chocolate

We have already found out that chocolate is poisonous for 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 products to a full-fledged diet:

1. Instead of giving a small piece of a sweet bar, indulge in fruit. V fresh you can apple, banana, raspberry, blackberry. It is better not to overuse dried fruits, as they contain sucrose. But if the dog asks, then you can feed in small quantities. Grapes and raisins should not be eaten by animals, as they negatively affect the health of vital organs.
2. A teaspoon of natural honey is the best substitute for sweets. But do not forget that everything should be in moderation.
3. A four-legged friend can occasionally feast on seeds and nuts. Frequent consumption of these products will lead to obesity.

I hope we answered your question: "Can a dog eat chocolate?" If your pet has a sweet tooth, then it's easy to find a replacement. Even a small amount of chocolate will harm your pet's health, so you shouldn't risk it.

The number of sources used in this article:. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine, which in dogs raises the heart rate, increases blood pressure, and can even lead to seizures. If your dog has eaten chocolate, you must act immediately, as the more chocolate he has eaten and the longer it is in his body, the greater the danger to your pet.

Steps

Seek Veterinary Help

Find out what kind of chocolate and how much the dog ate. When you call the veterinary clinic, you should give the veterinarian as much information as possible about the chocolate itself and the amount that your pet has swallowed. This information will allow your veterinarian to give you the most accurate follow-up directions.

Call your veterinarian immediately for a consultation. Your veterinarian will advise you on the next steps you need to take, whether it's a clinic visit or self-help at home.

• A small amount of chocolate can only lead to mild diarrhea and indigestion. However, no matter how much chocolate the dog ate, you should call your veterinarian, as the reaction to it may vary from animal to animal.

1. Take your dog to the veterinarian if advised by your veterinarian. The veterinarian has the appropriate knowledge, tools, drugs and equipment to treat a chocolate overdose.

   • The veterinarian at the clinic will have medication to stimulate vomiting, which will help if the dog ate chocolate no more than an hour ago.
   • In some cases the best option can be hospitalization of a pet in a round-the-clock veterinary clinic.

2. Call the veterinary emergency number if regular veterinarians are closed. Accidents with pets do not always happen during the opening hours of veterinary clinics, so if you need advice outside of working hours, find the phone number of alternative organizations that will be ready at any time to advise you and help your pet.

   • Some veterinary clinics specialize in providing emergency... Usually they work most of the day (if not around the clock), and it is convenient to contact there in case of any misfortune with the pet.

   Stimulate vomiting

   1. Try to induce the dog to vomit if recommended by your veterinarian. This should only be done if the chocolate was eaten no more than an hour ago and the pet has not yet developed neurological symptoms of poisoning (tremors). Remember that stimulating vomiting can potentially lead to life-threatening complications.

      • Give your dog about one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Mix it in equal proportions with water. You will likely spill a lot if you try to spoon peroxide into your dog, so be sure to keep a syringe in your veterinarian medicine cabinet for this.

   2. Observe the dog for 15 minutes. Take her outside and watch carefully. The pet's mobility will assist your task. In addition, the street is the most appropriate place to stimulate vomiting.

      • If vomiting does not appear 15 minutes after taking the peroxide, give the dog another dose and wait again.

   3. Do not give your dog more than two doses of hydrogen peroxide. If the dog still does not vomit after 30 minutes, do not give him more peroxide. Too much peroxide can harm your pet.

      Try giving your dog activated charcoal as a last resort. Activated carbon can alleviate the condition of the dog by absorbing the toxic elements of chocolate in the intestines. The usual dosage is 1 g of powdered charcoal and mixed with 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of water per kg of dog's weight.

   • Try to insure your pet's health to save money on veterinary services in an emergency. Some insurance companies currently insure pets too, so do your research and find the insurance that works best for you. There is insurance only against accidents, in other cases it is possible to insure quite ordinary situations. In any case, insurance will save you a considerable amount in an emergency with your pet.
   • Collect a veterinary first aid kit and keep it fresh. Among other things, include basic materials such as a syringe for medications or for washing wounds, gauze wipes for cleaning wounds or stopping bleeding, iodine for disinfecting wounds, tweezers, scissors, leash, muzzle, medical tape, cotton balls, and hydrogen peroxide.
   • Check the nursery for supplies of chocolate that your dog can reach.

   Warnings

   Sources of

   Article Information

   This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliot, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal care. Graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Has been working in the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

For most of us, chocolate as well chocolate desserts- this is favorite treat, threatening only our figure and teeth. Chocolate tastes good and has some beneficial properties.

Many dog ​​owners have never heard of chocolate being potentially harmful to animals. The cocoa beans that make chocolate contain an alkaloid called theobromine. It belongs to 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?
The composition of chocolate and confectionery products containing chocolate may contain different amounts of theobromine. If you arrange 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 rather 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 lethal dose of chocolate for theobromine. The smallest risk of poisoning occurs when consuming 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, 60-100 grams already can cause the death of a dog. But this does not mean that less chocolate can be given to your dog as a treat. Toxic effects are observed when using a dose 2-3 times less than the lethal dose. In addition, it must be borne in mind that having tasted chocolate once, the dog gets a 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 can appear many hours after the chocolate has been eaten. Therefore, even in the 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 appear within 24 hours.

If you notice symptoms of chocolate poisoning, immediately seek help from your veterinarian!

First, the dog develops cramping (spasmodic) abdominal pain and vomiting. Vomit, in most cases, contains a sufficiently large amount of chocolate, giving them a characteristic odor. Vomiting may be accompanied by salivation, and increased urination, less often diarrhea is observed. Also, poisoning is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, rapid breathing and palpitations, heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). After 2-4 hours, excitement develops, muscle tremors, increased susceptibility to noise, light and touch.

Convulsions subsequently develop, there is a loss of balance and impaired coordination. In case of severe poisoning, it is possible to develop heart failure, coma and death. Death can occur within 6-36 hours after taking chocolate.

Forecast.
The forecast directly depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. In the case of providing timely qualified assistance in the first hours after poisoning, full recovery is possible. general condition animal. With the development of seizures or arrhythmias, the prognosis is poor.
Dogs with health problems are more susceptible to chocolate poisoning. Against the background of poisoning, it is possible to develop pancreatitis, hepatic and. In epileptic dogs, chocolate can trigger another epileptic seizure. In severe cases, blood clotting disorders may develop, 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 be fatal.

Treatment.
Theobromine does not have a specific antidote and, mainly, symptomatic therapy is used for treatment, used for poisoning.

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

If the dog has recently eaten chocolate, 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 result of the examination of your dog and the laboratory tests carried out in each individual case, the veterinarian will draw up a treatment plan based on the estimated amount of chocolate eaten and the symptoms identified. Drugs will be prescribed to reduce the effect of theobromine on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. With convulsive syndrome, in order to stop (eliminate) an attack, it may even be necessary to use general anesthesia (anesthesia).
Intensive therapy with intravenous infusion is recommended to correct dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea, as well as to maintain the function of the liver, pancreas and other organs.
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 quite a long time (up to 3 days), so your dog may need inpatient treatment for this entire period.

Preventive measures.
The prevention of such poisoning is a reasonable attitude of the owner to the dog. Take care that your dog cannot get to the chocolate and chocolate products, keep them out of the reach of the animal.
No matter how the dog begs for a piece from you chocolate treats don't give her anything.

Chocolate is not dog food.

If you want to pamper your pet, treat him with 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).

You've probably heard that chocolate is deadly poison for dogs. Is it really so? If humans can eat chocolate, why can't dogs?

Dogs and humans are different creatures in many ways. For example, our pets can run in the snow all day, without much consequence. People can run barefoot in the snow for about 30 seconds before they feel pain.

The source of the problem for dogs is a plant-derived substance called theobromine, which is found in cocoa beans. It is toxic to our smaller brothers. Methylxanthines such as theobromine are cleared from the human body much more efficiently than from the canine. This is why dogs are not allowed chocolate.

How much theobromine is in chocolate?

Theobromine is similar to caffeine and is used medicinally as a diuretic, cardiac stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and muscle relaxant.

• The half-life of theobromine in dogs is 17.5 hours.
• If the dog has eaten chocolate, the toxic dose is 100-150 mg / kg of body weight.

However, the concentration of theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. For example:

• Milk chocolate contains 154 mg of theobromine per 100 g. Toxic dose for a 22 kg dog is 1400 g of milk chocolate.
• White chocolate is practically harmless, as it contains about 3.5 mg of theobromine per 100 g.
• Semi-sweet chocolate contains 528 mg of theobromine per 100 g. Toxic dose for a 22-kg dog is 425 g of semi-sweet chocolate.
• Chocolate for baking contains 1365 mg of theobromine per 100 g. The toxic dose for a 22 kg dog is 141 g of chocolate.

In general, the darker and bitter chocolate, the greater its danger to the dog.

Theobromine in chocolate coated chocolates (such as in chocolates with dried fruit) will be more diluted than in pure chocolate and hard chocolates.

Obviously, the chocolate in milk chocolate is pretty diluted, which is why many dogs can eat a bite or two without too much trouble. Some compassionate owners cannot withstand the plaintive gaze of their pet and share the sweetness with him. After all, the slice is so small, well, what bad can happen?

A small amount of chocolate is likely to give your dog an upset stomach with vomiting or diarrhea. However, the main problem is that the dog develops a love for chocolate and at any opportunity he can try to eat it. And it could be chocolate for baking, which the owners accidentally left on the table.

What if the dog ate chocolate?

If you see your dog swallow chocolate, or if it develops any of the symptoms described below, contact your nearest veterinary clinic.

Poisoning symptoms can be as follows:

• Vomit.
• Diarrhea.
• Increased body temperature.
• Muscle stiffness.
• Rapid breathing.
• Restless behavior.
• Increased heart rate.
• Low blood pressure.
• Cramps and muscle spasms.
• Heart failure, weakness and coma.

One piece of chocolate shouldn't be a problem as it doesn't contain a high enough dose of theobromine to harm your pet. However, if you have a small dog that has eaten a box of chocolates, you need to go to the vet right away. Don't expect everything to "pass by itself." Chocolate is a poison for dogs and it will have to be removed from the body with the help of special medications.

Remember, a dog showing signs of poisoning cannot be treated at home. The sooner you show it to a specialist, the better the prognosis for recovery will be.

Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning can develop for several hours and last for 2-3 days. This is due to the long half-life of theobromine.

How is chocolate poisoning treated?

Treatment depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. In the early stages, it is enough to induce vomiting and give the dog activated charcoal to block the absorption of theobromine in the body. Activated charcoal can be given every four to six hours during the first twenty-four hours after poisoning to shorten the duration of theobromine resorption and recycling.

Very often, other procedures, such as intravenous fluid therapy, are required to help dilute the toxin and speed up its elimination. Also, your veterinarian may give your dog a medication that will slow the heart rate in case of an increased heart rate and arrhythmias.

Although eating chocolate is rarely fatal, it can cause severe food poisoning for your pet. Chocolate is toxic because it contains theobromine methylxanthine. This substance is toxic to dogs and can cause severe clinical symptoms, especially if left untreated.

Incredible facts

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

Why is chocolate so dangerous for dogs? Exactly how much chocolate should your pet eat to get intoxicated? What are the general symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs? And finally, what should be done if your four-legged friend ate a dangerous dose of chocolate? You will find the 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 contained in high concentration in this delicacy, and causes greatest number poisoning among dogs... The problem is that theobromine affects the complex of the animal's digestive system, the nervous system (brain), as well as the cardiovascular system (including the lungs and heart) and kidneys.

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

Chocolate weighing 140 grams contains 250 mg of theobromine. Unambiguously toxic and potentially fatal to the life of a dog is a dose of chocolate, in which 60 milligrams of theobromine falls on one kilogram of the animal's weight. Thus, for a dog weighing 4.5 kilograms, it will be enough to eat a bar of chocolate, which contains 300 milligrams of theobromine, to start intoxication. Clinical symptoms will be noticeable 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). In this case, serious symptoms can be recorded after consuming 40 milligrams per kilogram of 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) would have to eat as many as 8 bars of milk chocolate for severe symptoms of poisoning to appear. At the same time, dark chocolate and confectionery chocolate much more toxic! For the same retriever, only three bars of dark chocolate can be fatal.

How to help a dog poisoned with chocolate?

If your pet ate chocolate, you should try to find out exactly how much of this delicacy was eaten. Then, given the type of chocolate, and taking into account the information provided earlier in this article, it remains only to estimate how high the likelihood 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 veterinarian).

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 administration of the emetic. At the same time, some specialists it is not recommended to use more than two repetitions when it comes to hydrogen peroxide... You can also use saline solution: one teaspoon of salt to one tablespoon of water. This is the dose for every 4.5 kilograms of the animal's weight. If you have not been able to induce vomiting in your dog, or if the animal, on the contrary, has excessive vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and fever, you should immediately show it to your veterinarian.

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 caring for your four-legged friend, you should be careful about 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 about your dog's health, recognize symptoms of poisoning, and become familiar with first aid procedures. Otherwise, even a small oversight can cost your pet your life.