tiwarisarita623

· 14 Apr 2022

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What to watch out for if dog eats chocolate

If you are a dog owner you know how they can force you into feeding them whatever you are eating just by throwing that puppy eye look at you. It is ok to throw them a piece or two of what you are having but there are things that you should not feed them and one of them is chocolate.

Chocolate is toxic for dogs and a lot depends on the type and amount of chocolate you give a dog. If your dog eats chocolate you should monitor him for signs of toxicity or talk to a vet about it. Here are a few things you need to on what to watch for if a dog eats chocolate.

Why is chocolate toxic to dogs?
Chocolate has theobromine and caffeine which can increase the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system of a dog. It can lead to sickness and other health issues for the dog. You should avoid giving:
1.    Cocoa powder (most toxic)
2.    Unsweetened baker’s chocolate
3.    Semisweet chocolate
4.    Dark chocolate
5.    Milk chocolate
You should be concerned if a dog eats 20 mg of methylxanthines per kg of its body weight. Cardiac symptoms of chocolate toxicity occur around 40 to 50 mg/kg, and seizures occur at dosages greater than 60 mg/kg therefore it is important to know how much of it a dog has taken. For example, an average Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar is 1.55 ounces, consuming even one chocolate bar can have serious consequences, especially for small dogs. Eating a crumb of chocolate cake or a very small piece of a chocolate bar, on the other hand, probably won’t kill your dog, especially if it is a larger breed, but chocolate should never be fed as a treat. You can however give them carob which is as tasty as chocolate for them.

Signs of Chocolate Poisoning
You can look for signs of chocolate poisoning within 6 to 12 hours after your dog has taken it. The signs usually last up to 72 hours. Keep an eye out for signs like vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, too much urination, tremors, abnormal heart rate, and seizures. Dogs that are older or have a heart condition are more at risk of sudden death from chocolate poisoning.

What to Do If Your Dog Ate Chocolate
Talk to your vet immediately if your dog has eaten chocolate and inform him of the amount, your dog’s breed, and age for him to decide on what should be done. He may ask you to keep an eye on your dog for symptoms or ask you to bring him in. A vet might induce vomiting and give him activated charcoal to get rid of the toxins from the body so it does not get absorbed into the bloodstream.

Ways to prevent dogs from eating chocolate
Giving a small amount of milk chocolate to a large dog may not cause too much of a problem but it is advisable to never give chocolate to a dog as a treat.

Follow simple measures to avoid your dog eating chocolate
Keep all your chocolate, cocoa powder, and other chocolate mixes away so that your dog can’t reach it.

Tell your kids to keep their chocolate on shelves instead of leaving it out on the table.

Teach your dog the “leave it” command so next time when you see a piece of chocolate in his mouth he can let it go with just one command. It may take some while for him to learn to leave a delicious treat but it is not impossible.

Have other dog-friendly treats ready at home so when you are eating your chocolate he can have his own safe treat and enjoy it with the family.
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