The Truth about Dogs and Chocolate

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The Truth about Dogs and Chocolate

• By
• Stacy Woodman

2
The Questions at hand

• Why is chocolate bad for dogs?
• What can it do to harm them?
• How can we help them get better?

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The Love of my life

• My dog,
• Winnie
• Lhasa Apso
• 25 pounds
• 6 years old (human years)

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Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

• Contains Theobromine, a xanthine compound
• Same family as caffeine
• Dogs can not digest this chemical like humans can
• Toxic in sufficient amounts

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Toxic Levels

• Takes about 100-150 mg/kg of theobromine to cause
  a toxic reaction
• Also depends on dogs individual sensitivity,
  size of the dog and chocolate concentration.
• If 100 mg/kg is toxic
• 1oz/lb of body weight for milk chocolate
• 1oz/3lbs of body weight for semi-sweet
• 1oz/9lbs of body weight for Bakers

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So..

• If it takes 8 oz to harm a 10 lb dog and my
  Winnie weighs 25 lbs, it would take 20 oz to harm
  him.

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What can it do to harm them?

• Xanthines in chocolate affect
• -the nervous system
• -the cardiovascular system
• -peripheral nerves
• Diuretic effect

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Signs include

• Hyperexcitability
• Hyperirritability
• Increased heart rate
• Restlessness
• Increased urination
• Muscle tremors
• Vomitting
• Diarrhea

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How can we help them get better?

• No specific remedy
• The toxin has a half life of 17.5 hours in dogs
• Induce vomitting in the first 1-2 hours if
  quantity is unknown
• Also
• -activated charcoal to absorb
• -an anticonvulsant
• -oxygen therapy, intravenous drugs and
• fluids may be needed to protect
• the heart.

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Resources

• http//www.bigpawsonly.com/chocolate-poisoning-in-
  dogs-health.htm 2001-2006
• -retrieved 3/4/06
• http//www.cah.com/dr_library/chocpois.html
• -Columbia Animal Hospital retrieved 3/4/06
• http//transportcafe.co.uk/dogchocolate.html
• -retrieved 3/5/06
• http//www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/DOGS/chocolat
  etoxic.htm
• -TalkToTheVet- 1999-2005 retrieved 3/5/06
• http//ut.essortment.com/dogschocolate_rcbr.htm
  2002
• -retrieved on 3/5/06