Death by Chocolate (info)

[BabyElephant]

I was doing some research today and came across this article on chocolate - I know we've talked about this before but I think this explains it in a little more detail...

Death by Chocolate

Gerry McGuigan writes:

Chocolate made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dark chocolate is at least 10 times as lethal as milk chocolate.



It could be a mistake to encourage your dog to develop a taste for chocolate. A 25 kilogram dog could die from 140grams of dark chocolate (just less than the size of an average bar).



Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines of which caffeine and theo-bromine are members. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The life of these compounds in the human body is in the region of 4 – 6 hours, but in a dog it is more like 36 hours.



In the dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances like humans the dog keeps repoisoning itself.



There are many varieties of chocolate with differing amounts of caffeine and theo-bromine. The lethal dose for a dog is about 56grams per kilogram of bodyweight. Thus for a 5 kilogram dog this would be about 280 grams (just under two standard bars).



Symptoms of poisoning can include:



Vomiting

Hyperactivity

Restlessness

Hypersensitivity to touch (the dog will jump when touched)

Very rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing rate

A loss of control of leg muscles

Muscle tremor seizures

General weakness

Coma and death finally follow



A small dog left in a house with a box of chocolates might well follow its nose to your chocolates and end up losing its life in the process.

[sheplovr]

Hey Baby
It is the Theobromine that is the killer. Baking chocolate is even worse. I did nto read word for word u posted, but chocolate can kill my parrott also.
Holidays I always put a reminder on my site to put candies high up.

[Dobified]

Thank you for posting that BE. It is important to make sure people know this. We as humans love chocolate so much it would only be natural for some people to think a dog should love it too.


Don't forget about Grapes, raisin, oinions. They are also poison to dogs.

[Agilitygirl23]

are grapes poisonus to dogs? my friend has been feeding her dog grapes,,,,how long does it take for symptms to show??????

[dog lover]

Onions are also bad news. Thanks for posting this. I have been looking for an artical on chocolate and dogs to give to someone I know.

[Blistering Wind]

FYI, if your **DOG** downs a bunch of chocolate, induce vomiting and get them to the vet.


Hydrogen Peroxide is an excellent emetic.


I usually am found on the horse forum, Horse is like second nature for me to type. LMAO

[bernicesmama]

Thank goodness i am not a dog! I would delve into a deep depression without chocolate! lol

great info baby e. I always wondered why it was bad for them.

[Dobified]

Old thread, but good info on here.

[Dobified]

Originally Posted by Blistering Wind

FYI, if your horse downs a bunch of chocolate, induce vomiting and get them to the vet.

Hmmm, LOL

Not sure why I would have chocolate in any quantity in my barn but hey one never knows.

I am lucky to get my horses to eat carrots never mind sugar or chocolate

[pung-yo]

Originally Posted by Dobified

Hmmm, LOL

Not sure why I would have chocolate in any quantity in my barn but hey one never knows.

I am lucky to get my horses to eat carrots never mind sugar or chocolate

Hi there dobified, didn't know you had horses. I had to give it up this year, do you still ride? What I wouldn't do for riding again. One of my Arabians couldn't have carrots or sugar...insulin resistant, so sad, but I think she'd pass on the chocolate lol. Chocolate in your barn? Sure, why not if you're a choco addict lol.