I've heard chocolate can be poisonous to dogs. Why is this?

Yes, chocolate can be poisonous to our dogs.  The chance of this happening depends on the type of chocolate and how much was consumed.  "Bitter" chocolate is a pure product, not diluted by other substances, and therefore the most poisonous.  Luckily, since it is bitter, it is not very tasty.  Milk chocolate has milk, sugar & other substances mixed in it, so it is less toxic per ounce of candy consumed.  But, it also tastes good, so the dog may eat a lot of it.  Chocolate flavored baked goods, like cakes & cookies, have a still lower  level of pure chocolate per ounce of product.  This means an even larger amount must be eaten to be toxic.

Another factor to consider is the size of the dog.  A 5-lb. dog can eat just a little chocolate before poisoning occurs, while a 90-lb. dog has to eat a lot more.  The toxic element in chocolate is theobromine, a substance that a human's system can handle fine.  Dogs, however, cannot break down theobromine to eliminate it from the body soon enough to prevent toxicity.  It causes weakness, shock, trembling, collapse, coma, & even death.  There is no antidote for the theobromine that can be given to dogs.  Treatment by a veterinarian involves supporting the system with IV fluids and various drugs to keep the blood pressure correct and the organs functioning until the dog finally gets rid of the theobromine.  Treatment can take several hours to several days. 

If you ever suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, call us or a poison control hot line.  We'll need to know the type of chocolate, approximately how much was eaten, and when.  We may give instructions to come in immediately or tell you how to induce vomiting.  Like most health problems, prevention is the best option!

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