What if my dog or cat eats chocolate?
Written by Samantha |
Chocolate, who doesn't love it? Especially around the holidays, there is often plenty of chocolate in the house. Whether it's chocolate Christmas wreaths, Easter eggs, or simply indulging in a sweet treat, chocolate is a popular choice. However, did you know that chocolate is toxic to our dogs and cats? Read this blog article to learn why chocolate is harmful to our pets.
Why shouldn’t a dog or cat eat chocolate?
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. But what makes chocolate toxic to these animals? The toxic substance in chocolate for dogs and cats is theobromine, which is found in cocoa. It gives chocolate its typical bitter taste. The amount of theobromine varies between different types of chocolate. Generally, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.
Why do dogs and cats get sick from theobromine in chocolate but humans do not?
Humans can metabolise theobromine quickly without any issues. Dogs and cats cannot. They require a longer time to eliminate theobromine from their bodies, allowing it to accumulate. Whether your dog or cat becomes ill from theobromine poisoning depends on its weight, the type of chocolate consumed, and the amount eaten. Additionally, susceptibility to chocolate poisoning varies among animals. This means that one dog may show symptoms of poisoning with a certain amount of chocolate, while another dog may show no symptoms with the same amount of theobromine.
Why is chocolate poisoning particularly common in dogs?
Chocolate poisoning is mainly seen in dogs because they are more likely to scavenge for food and may eat chocolate along with its packaging. Theobromine is also toxic to cats, but cats are often more selective about their food and are less likely to eat chocolate voluntarily. Kittens, however, are particularly sensitive to it.
How much chocolate is toxic for my dog or cat?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to predict how much chocolate will cause symptoms in your dog or cat. As a guide, a 5 kg dog can experience mild poisoning symptoms after consuming 16 grams of dark chocolate or 50 grams of milk chocolate. This varies depending on the theobromine content, which differs between chocolate brands.
What happens when a dog or cat eats chocolate?
The initial symptoms of chocolate poisoning typically appear within 4 to 12 hours after ingestion, though in some cases, symptoms may not appear for up to 24 hours, especially if the animal consumed chocolate including its wrapper. Symptoms may include restlessness, excessive panting, increased drinking, vomiting, diarrhoea, and muscle tremors. Body temperature may rise (normal body temperature for dogs and cats is between 38.0 and 39.0 degrees Celsius). Some animals may even experience seizures. Severe poisoning can lead to heart arrhythmias, coma, and death.
What should you do if your dog or cat has eaten chocolate?
If your dog or cat consumes chocolate, it’s crucial to contact your vet immediately. Keep the chocolate packaging with the theobromine content (cocoa content) and try to estimate how much your pet consumed. Also, determine when your pet ate the chocolate. This information will help the vet assess the severity. Your vet will likely advise bringing your pet to the practice for evaluation. If ingestion was recent, the vet may induce vomiting to prevent absorption of theobromine. Hospitalisation may be necessary in some cases, as there is no antidote for chocolate poisoning and treatment is supportive and symptomatic.
Prevention is always better than cure. Ensure chocolate is kept out of reach of pets, never leave it unattended on tables or in open bags!
In addition to chocolate, there are other human foods that are toxic to pets. Read more about this in our article ‘What is toxic for your pet?‘
Still have questions? Contact us at veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.
Here are a few more products that your dog or cat can happily eat.
