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Sunday, 29 July 2012

Will a Dog Get Sick If It Eats Chocolates

By Jerry Welsh


Chocolates are comfort foods for humans but these products derived from the seeds of the cacao tree are poisonous to dogs. Similar to humans, dogs too would love this delicious dark brown food. Aside from the threat of gaining weight, eating chocolate would have no other dangerous effects on humans. In man's best friends, eating significant amounts of chocolates can result to death.

Chocolates are safe for humans thus many dog owners cannot believe that this food would have poisonous effects when consumed by dogs. Chocolate products became poisonous to dogs because the cacao seeds from where these products are derived contain the chemical Theobromine. Chocolates have toxic effects on dogs because these animals cannot metabolize Theobromine. Chocolate poisoning would depend on the amount and kind of chocolate eaten by the dog. The level of Theobromine contained by chocolate products vary thus the poisonous effects would vary as well.

Not many dog owners would know why and how chocolate can poison the dog thus a lot of pet parents would panic at the sight of the pet eating chocolates. Just like their human friends, dogs too would love milk chocolate bars. Mixed with milk and sugar, the chocolate content of this product would be low This means that the pet may not show signs of poisoning.

It would be a different matter if a pet has managed to gain access to the pantry and feasted on baking chocolate or a pack of dark chocolates. A gram of dark chocolate or baking chocolate can contain as much as 16 mg of Theobromine and 130mg of this chemical per kilogram of body weight would already be fatal to the dog.

A dog will show the symptoms of poisoning if it has ingest large amounts of Theobromine. Abdominal pain and vomiting will be the first signs . Owners that have not seen the dog eating chocolate would know what is happening to the pet as the vomit will contain not only blood but also bits of chocolates. The dog will appear to be intoxicated as it would have difficulty walking or standing. Dogs poisoned by chocolates would urinate frequently and would have increased heart rate. Other symptoms of chocolate poisoning are seizures and coma that can lead to the death of the pet thus immediate treatment would be very necessary. There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. However, the pet can be saved if immediate treatment is given.




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