Table of Contents
Why chocolate is so dangerous for dogs?
Chocolate is known to be made from cocoa, which in turn is derived from the plant of the same name. This plant contains a special substance called theobromine which helps us to think of chocolate as a delicious treat! But it is not always what is good for humans that is suitable for pets. Thus, theobromine is particularly toxic for dogs and birds.
You and I have noted that there are many types of chocolate and all contain theobromine, although in different concentrations. That’s why it turns out that once a dog tastes one chocolate, he stays healthy and the other seriously ill. It’s important to know which chocolate is the most dangerous for your dog.
Your dog’s weight is also important: for example, a piece of even ‘dangerous’ chocolate is unlikely to cause any noticeable harm to a large pet. It is also important that the chocolate is eaten on an empty or full stomach. Let’s see which chocolate to keep away from your dog!
Is milk chocolate bad for a dog?
White chocolate. The main ingredient in white chocolate is cocoa butter, not pure cocoa. You know that this kind of chocolate is very different from other types of chocolate, both in appearance and taste. Theobromine in white chocolate is the minimum, which is why we consider white chocolate to be the safest chocolate for dogs.
But: “the safest” doesn’t mean “absolutely safe”. What we’re saying is that a dog accidentally eats a piece or two of this product will probably avoid poisoning. In large doses, if you eat it with a bar, white chocolate is also potentially dangerous. Giving it to your dog as a treat is strongly discouraged. Furthermore, once a dog has tasted white chocolate he may develop the need to try other varieties of chocolate.I
Is milk chocolate bad for a dog?
Milk chocolate. As its name suggests, milk chocolate contains not only cocoa but also milk and some other ingredients. Theobromine concentration in this chocolate is not excessive. But this product is certainly not safe. Especially if you are not stingy on expensive sweets of a decent brand containing chocolate, not a cheap surrogate. From one swallowed candy disaster will not come, but nothing more.
Is dark chocolate bad for a dog?
Dark (bitter) chocolate. Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of cocoa and theobromine. In contrast to milk chocolate, which contains a relatively large quantity of milk, cocoa butter is second in the list of ingredients. The concentration of cocoa products in dark chocolate can reach 70% or even more. Dark chocolate is therefore considered the most dangerous for dogs. A dog of an ornamental or indoor breed can get seriously poisoned by eating a couple of squares (“queues”) of this chocolate.
Cocoa. Many of us buy ready-made cocoa powders. Of these, we make a drink called cocoa, and we also use it for baking and other domestic purposes.
So, a drink called ‘hot chocolate’ or ‘cocoa’ is even more poisonous to dogs than the most exquisite bitter chocolate. Pies, donuts and other pastries sprinkled with chocolate or cocoa powder will be just as poisonous to dogs. One spoonful of eaten cocoa powder is a reason to see your vet immediately. Accordingly, dear readers, be vigilant and cautious. Keep cocoa powder and chocolate bars out of reach of pets.
Why is Chocolate Bad for Dogs
Not all four-legged owners know that chocolate is a huge threat to every dog. Theobromine contained in it is toxic to the animal and even in small amounts can lead to serious poisoning and in extreme cases even to the death of our pet.
Since even a small amount of chocolate given to a dog can have tragic consequences for him, it should not be given to his pet and he should not have access to products containing chocolate. However, if your dog is poisoned with chocolate it is necessary to react quickly and decisively and preferably go to the vet’s surgery immediately.
Сan dogs eat chocolate?
Theobromine is a substance contained in chocolate that causes poisoning in dogs. Although man has no problems with digestion and assimilation of this ingredient, the four-legged dog metabolizes it very slowly. They also have additional difficulties with the excretion of compounds contained in chocolate, which leads to their gradual accumulation in the body. For this reason, not only can a dog eat a large amount of chocolate at a time, but also eat a small amount of it every day, as this leads to a toxic concentration in his body.
Dog poisoning occurs after eating one cube of chocolate, but the course of the poisoning will depend on the size of the animal and its individual predisposition. Remember to never allow your dog to eat chocolate and to prevent it effectively. Make sure that sweets or food products containing chocolate are stored in a place that is inaccessible to the dog. Do not leave chocolate within the reach of your pet, because an inquisitive animal can simply eat it. This also applies to other products containing theobromine, which include coca-cola, tea, coffee, and cocoa beans.
Diagnosis of Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs?
If your dog has eaten chocolate, it is essential to determine how long it has been since it was consumed. If it happened just a few tens of minutes ago or a while ago, we should provoke our dog to vomit as soon as possible. To do this, give him hydrogen peroxide water directly into his mouth.
It is assumed that for each kilogram of body weight we give 1-5 ml of liquid, but not more than 50 ml. If this action does not produce the expected results, you should immediately go to the vet who will take the necessary treatment. As there is, unfortunately, no specialist antidote to combat the effects of theobromine intake by the dog, pharmacological measures appropriate to the animal’s symptoms and condition will be taken.
It is worth knowing that the theobromine content of theobromine, which is toxic for a dog, depends on the type of product. This means that the amount of the ingredients in different chocolates can vary dramatically. It will also be crucial whether your dog has eaten milk chocolate, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder or chocolate powder.
However, not every time we have to panic and assume a worst-case scenario. Usually eating one chocolate or a strip of the chocolate bar does not pose a deadly threat to the dog, because the amount of theobromine in such an amount of product is not too high. However, this does not mean that the dog can eat chocolate – even a small amount of this product should not be given to the animal.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Yorkies
If your dog has eaten chocolate and the toxic concentration of theobromine in the body is reached, the expected symptoms will occur within 24 hours. In most cases, they are already visible after 4 hours. Distressing symptoms may occur with varying degrees of severity and the course of poisoning and the clinical condition of the animal will depend on the amount of toxic intake.
The most common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in a dog are:
– abdominal pain;
– unstable gait and difficulty in maintaining balance;
– accelerated breathing;
– pressure fluctuations;
– heart rhythm disorders;
– increased demand for water;
– more frequent urination.
Sometimes the owner can also observe in the four-legged:
– salivation;
– convulsions;
– hyperactivity and marked irritability.
In severe and advanced cases of poisoning the dog will develop:
– muscle stiffness;
– temperature drop;
– the appearance of bloody urine;
– the appearance of diarrhea.
Unfortunately, when the above symptoms appear, most often there is damage to the nervous system and circulatory failure, which in most cases results in the death of the animal.
How much chocolate can a dog eat without harm?
To understand how much chocolate a dog can poison, you need to familiarise yourself with the concept of LD50.
LD50 is the average dose of a substance that causes the death of half of the participants in a test group.
For dogs, the dose of LD50 is 300 mg per 1 kg body weight. For humans, it is 1000 mg per 1 kg of body weight.
Different varieties of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine:
- up to 60 mg in 30 g of milk chocolate
- up to 400 mg in 30 g of bitter chocolate.
So for a dog weighing 20 kg LD50 is 2.8 kg of milk chocolate or 400 g of bitter chocolate.
But this is a lethal dose, and bad health comes with consuming much less. And the smaller the dog, the greater the risk of serious consequences and death.
So it’s hard to tell with certainty how much chocolate a dog can get without causing him any harm, but to understand how much panic a dog can get, an approximate idea is possible. For example, if a German shepherd dog eats one slice of milk chocolate, it won’t do much harm.
Treatment for Chocolate Poisoning in Yorkies
The first thing to do if the dog ate chocolate is to make him vomit.
Give your dog hydrogen peroxide: one teaspoon of 3% solution (only 3%!) per 2-2.5 kg of dog weight. You can dilute the peroxide with water in a 50:50 ratio. Then take your dog outside: movement will also help to provoke vomiting.
Warning! Vomiting may only be induced within an hour after the dog has eaten chocolate and only if neurological symptoms have not yet appeared.
If your dog has not vomited within 15 minutes then the peroxide has not worked and should not be given again. It could hurt the dog.
You have to act on the situation. If you think your dog has had a dangerous dose of chocolate, take him to the vet.
If you think your dog has a low dose and no symptoms, call the vet, tell him how much and what kind of chocolate he ate and follow the vet’s advice.
If your dog is showing symptoms of poisoning, take him to the vet.
By the way, theobromine has an even greater negative effect on cats. But cats aren’t at risk of being poisoned because they don’t like sweets: they just don’t feel sweet.
How Much Chocolate is Toxic to a Yorkshire Terrier?
It is a good idea to keep in mind the levels of theobromine that is present in the various foods listed above since this plays a huge role in regard to how much of an emergency it is if your Yorkie does eat chocolate.
- 200 mg or more: This amount may be fatal.
- 60 to 200 mg: A Yorkshire Terrier will usually have serious complications including uncontrolled muscle twitches and other neurological abnormalities.
- 40 to 60 mg: Signs of poisoning may occur.
- 20 to 40 mg: May cause problems, particularly for toy breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier.
- Under 20 mg: Will usually result in loose stools, stomach upset, etc.
Types of Chocolate Most Harmful to Dogs
Milk chocolate:
A 5 lb. (2.27 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating .75 oz. (21.26 grams) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating 1.5 oz. (42.53 gm).
A 10 lb. (4.5 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating 1.5 oz. (42.53 gm) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating 3 oz. (8.51 gm).
Semi-sweet chocolate:
A 5 lb. (2.27 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating .3 oz. (8.51 grams) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating .6 oz. (17.01 gm).
A 10 lb. (4.5 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating .6. (17.01 gm) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating 1.2 oz. (34.02 gm).
Baking chocolate:
A 5 lb. (2.27 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating .1 oz. (2.84 grams) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating .2 oz. (5.67 gm).
A 10 lb. (4.5 kg) Yorkie will usually have a mild reaction after eating .2 oz. (5.67 gm) and a moderate to the severe reaction after eating .4 oz. (11.34 gm).
How to keep your pet safe?
To avoid serious consequences, you should keep this product out of the reach of your dog, especially if you know that your dog is cunning and clever, sniffs out his favorite food, asks for it and can eat it at any time.
You shouldn’t indulge in small pieces either, even occasionally. Dogs should not eat chocolate in any form, be it frosted sweets, pastries, desserts or in any quantity. There are special treats for dogs that are safe for their health.
A small piece of candy will not harm a medium to large size pets, but for smaller breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, it can be fatal. The more chocolate you eat, the more serious the consequences.
Special chocolate for dogs
It’s not uncommon for the eyes of a pet to break the will of their owners and force them to take actions that can lead to serious consequences.
While many dogs are known to love chocolate and other sweets, this product is not allowed to be given to dogs, no matter how complainant their eyes may look. Every dog owner should know how bad chocolate is for dogs. However, there is special chocolate for dogs, but even limited chocolate should be given.
The components which you should in chocolate for dogs
This delicacy does not contain cocoa, sugar. Manufacturers replace the cocoa with carob wood powder. However, this type of dainty, like drops, contains cocoa but in small quantities between 2.5% and 4%. Dairy products are made from milk and dairy products, but unfortunately, most producers do not specify which dairy products are contained in the delicacy.
White chocolate is made on the basis of palm kernel oil. It contains vitamins and is recommended for dogs with allergies as well as puppies.
One of the main ingredients found in most chocolate treats is lecithin, which helps with the absorption of A, D, E and K vitamins, as well as beneficial effects on the liver and kidneys.
Delicacies of this type contain a complex of vitamins, particularly vitamins of group A, B, D, E. There are chocolate flavored vitamin drops for dogs of all breeds and ages, which are given as a vitaminized treat to improve coat and skin condition.
If you have chocolate yorkie all things are the same 🙂
