Trick or Treat: No Chocolate for Doggie to Eat  

It's the perfect time to carve a pumpkin and decorate for Halloween. But...be careful where you put that candy dish. Chocolate is actually quite toxic to dogs and cats. While cats usually turn their noses up at chocolate, dogs can gobble up treats and get very sick. 

The Dangers of Chocolate 

Chocolate contains three compounds that are very toxic to pets: theobromine, caffeine and methylxanthine. Different types of chocolate have different amounts of these toxic substances. Dark chocolate contains three times more of the compounds than milk chocolate, while baking chocolate has ten times more! An average Labrador Retriever would have to ingest a whole bag of milk chocolate candies to start having seizures, but just a couple bites of baking chocolate stolen from the counter would have the same result.

In addition to the toxic compounds there is also often a lot of fat in chocolate treats. The fat alone can cause a severe condition in dogs called pancreatitis, which causes vomiting and abdominal pain.

Symptoms of Toxicity 

Dogs that have eaten chocolate may show signs of vomiting and diarrhea, as well as excitability. If enough of the toxic compounds have been ingested, watch for more severe symptoms such as tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and even death.

What to Do  

Dogs tend to have sensitive systems compared to us humans. Eating even a non-toxic dose of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and require medical care. If your dog has ingested chocolate:

• Save any packaging from the chocolate. It can be really helpful to calculate the amount of toxic chemicals your dog has ingested.
• Call your veterinarian.  Be sure to report any vomiting or diarrhea. Your veterinarian can give some quick advice over the phone.  
• For smaller doses of chocolate,  the veternarian may have you induce vomiting and recommend some monitoring and an exam to check your dog's heart.  
• Larger dose ingestions may require hospitalization and possibly even critical care for several days.  

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep all candies and treats that contain chocolate in a place where your dog cannot get to them. Educate your children and guests about the dangers of doggies eating chocolate. With a little extra care this season you can keep your dog safe from chocolate toxicity.

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