AVOID CHOCOLATE TO DOGS

Six ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. For them, chocolate is poison. In addition to a high fat contact, chocolate contains, caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that affect the central nervous system and the heart muscle,as well as increasing the frequency of urination.

Symptoms of Poisoning

If your 50-pound dog gets his paws on a single chocolate-chip cookie,it probably won’t cause him serious problems. However, if he gobbles up more-a pan of brownies, say - he may develop vomiting or diarrhea. Once toxic levels are reached,the stimulants kick in, and this is when you really have to worry. Symptoms include: restlessness,hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and/or excessive panting. If your pet isn’t treated, he could go into a seizure - possibly even die.

How much Is Toxic?

The amount of chocolate that it takes to poison your pet depends on the type of chocolate he’s eaten and his weight. White chocolate has the least amount of stimulants and baking chocolate or cocoa beans have the highest. Here is a list of the most common sources of chocolate and the amount that leads to toxicity

White Chocolate.

Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 45 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 2 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate and Instant Cocoa.

Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 1/3 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when I ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. This means that as little as 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 3 ounces.

Backing Chocolate.

Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.1 ounces per pound of body weight in ingested Severe signs occur when 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Two small one-ounces squares of backing chocolate can be toxic to a 20-pound dog. A 10-pound cat would need to ingest 1 ounces of baking chocolate. Even if your pet doesn’t eat enough chocolate to induce toxicity, the candy’s high fat content may cause him to vomit or have diarrhea at much smaller amounts than those shown. If that happens, watch him carefully. If his symptoms don’t clear up within eight hours, call your veterinarian (if your pet is very small or young, call within four hours); aside from toxicity issues, you don’t want the animal to dehydrate. Try to be as precise as you can about the type of chocolate the animals ate,how much be took and approximately when he ate it. The sooner you get help, the better off your pet will be. If the animal is showing signs of toxicity, he has a good prognosis if he’s treated within four to six hours of ingestion. The effects of the chocolate can linger for 12 to 36 hour, though, so your pet may require hospitalization.