What if your dog has inadvertently eaten some chocolate? How do you have to behave?

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and could be lethal. It is important to know what type of chocolate and how much you have ingested.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

It is now known: chocolate is toxic to dogs and could be lethal in certain doses. But when is it dangerous? How to intervene?

Chocolate is one of the most popular desserts: there are those who consume it all year round as a small greedy vice and those who reserve the right to eat it on the occasion of holidays, such as Easter, Christmas or for birthdays. In these moments it is easy to get distracted and not realize that our dog has swallowed a nice piece of chocolate. Well, if everyone knows that chocolate is bad for dogs, perhaps many do not know why, what effects it causes and above all how to behave. In particular, how to understand when we are facing an emergency or if our dog is out of danger? (READ also: Why Chocolate Is Poison For Your Dog (And Not Us)

Index

Why chocolate is bad for dogs

Chocolate is not harmful to people when consumed in moderation. Indeed we know that cocoa is rich in antioxidants and stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphin, giving us pleasure. Unfortunately, however, it does not have the same pleasant effect on our animals. In fact, cocoa contains two exciting substances, theobromine and caffeine. These substances can speed up the heartbeat and stimulate the dog's nervous system. according to the American Veterinary Health Manual.

However, the damage depends on the quantities ingested by our Fido in relation to his weight and above all on the type of chocolate. In fact, the higher the concentration of cocoa in the chocolate, the higher the risk of suffering from certain symptoms of intoxication.

In order of toxicity, here are which types of chocolate contain greater quantities of theobromine and caffeine:

cocoa powder;
bitter cocoa for sweets;
dark chocolate with little sugar;
sweet dark chocolate;
milk chocolate.

Therefore, knowing which and how much chocolate our dog has ingested can make us understand if it is appropriate to take him to the vet right away. Nowadays there are no scientific methods to diagnose if there has been chocolate poisoning and to what extent. But in the United States they have created a calculator that can give an idea of the risk of intoxication. Just enter the quantity and type of chocolate and the size of the dog. The result of the calculation will advise whether to call the vet and monitor the symptoms or rush to the clinic immediately to save his life!

What if your dog has inadvertently eaten some chocolate? How do you have to behave?

Source: vets-now.com

What are the symptoms of intoxication?

If we see that our four-legged friend begins to have symptoms of intoxication such as diarrhea or vomiting, it is possible that he has ingested something unsuitable for his species! But, in addition to these, there are other less obvious signs that it is important to know how to recognize in order to save his life:

restlessness;
very frequent urination;
tremor;
very rapid or abnormal heartbeat;
convulsions;

Unfortunately, cocoa poisoning can even cause death in some cases. So we must never underestimate the fact, as a vice to be forgiven. But we must try to understand as soon as possible if our dog is in danger. Also because the effects could occur from 6 to 12 hours after ingestion.

What quantities can be lethal?

As mentioned above, the degree of danger depends on the type of chocolate, the quantity and the size of the dog. Other characteristics of the animal, such as age or pre-existence of heart disease, can increase the chances of suffering adverse effects.

Veterinarians at the American Kennel Club warn that even as little as 20 mg of methylxanthines, which are exciting substances like theobromine and caffeine, for every kilogram of body weight, can cause intoxication. Cardiac symptoms, on the other hand, occur around 40.50 mg per K and convulsions in doses above 60 mg / kg.

In a nutshell, the calculation can be simplified considering that around 28g of chocolate for every kg of the dog can be very worrying! A 100g bar of dark chocolate, for example, could kill a small dog.

What to do if the dog has eaten chocolate?

The Chocolate Poisoning Risk Calculator is certainly a very useful tool for understanding the severity of the case. However, it is advisable to immediately call the veterinarian who will be able to advise on what to do. In less severe cases it will be necessary to monitor the dog's status. In others you will have to go to the clinic. Possibly substances will be administered to stem the damage and absorb toxins, such as activated carbon. Or sedatives to calm our Fido and decrease the heart rhythm. In case of convulsions the dog could be hospitalized and remain under the control of the veterinarian for 24 hours.

Now that we know what can happen to our little dog if he eats chocolate, it is necessary to take all necessary precautions. One of these is certainly hiding chocolate from its reach. But good training can teach him to stay away from certain treacherous treats!

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Source: American Kennel Club