by Debra Macapagal

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: January 01, 2012

We know chocolate is toxic for dogs, but why? Chocolate has many benefits for the humans in the family, but for animals especially dogs, chocolate quite is toxic.

Chocolate is made from the cacao bean, which contains a compound called Theobromine, which dogs are not able to metabolize and eliminate as effectively as humans.

The accumulation of Theobromine in the dog's tissues can easily reach toxic levels, especially if consumed all at once.

Dogs can get sick by ingesting as little as 20 mg/kg of chocolate and as much as 60 to 100 mg/kg can result in seizures or death.

In 2008, the poison centre at the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) managed over 6000 cases involving a variety of forms of chocolate poisonings from dark chocolate to milk chocolate. Due to the quick thinking of their owners and proper treatment from medical teams, only 8 of those poisonings resulted in death (Personal communication, 2009)

All chocolate is different, so how much chocolate is toxic for dogs? The following information found on the Dog Owner's Digest Website should help determining toxic consumption levels for dogs.

White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to cause signs of poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds for a 10-pound dog.

Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of body weight. Approximately one pound of milk chocolate is poisonous to a 20-pound dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog. The average chocolate bar contains 2 to 3 ounces of milk chocolate. It would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10 pound dog. Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic level.

Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight. One-third of a pound of sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog; 1/6 pounds for a 10-pound dog.

Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound body weight. Two one-ounce squares of bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.

What to look for if you dog has eaten chocolate:

Symptoms can start showing 6 to 12 hours after a dog ingests chocolate.

Mild to sever symptoms include:

•Vomiting
•Diarrhea
•Bloating
•Restlessness
•Hyperactivity
•Tremor
•Seizures
•Comas
•Death

What to do if your dog has eaten Chocolate:

When a dog has consumed chocolate it is important to remove it from their body as quickly as possible before the Theobromine has had a chance to circulate.

It is possible to induce vomiting which will help remove the poison; however, this should be done under close supervision of a qualified veterinarian. Some of the products used to induce vomiting such as Hydrogen Peroxide and Syrup of Ipecac can cause more problems if not administered correctly.

Chocolate Substitutes

Carob is the best known substitute for chocolate. It looks like chocolate, smells like chocolate, tastes like chocolate, but is not toxic for dogs like chocolate.

Some pet stores sell cookies and tasty treats for dogs. The ones that look like they are made with chocolate are actually made with Carob. Homemade treats can also be made with Carob powder, and both the humans and animals can enjoy snaking and sharing treats together.

For more information on Carob treats, check out the following websites for baking and snacking ideas.

Pampered Dog Gifts

Paw Palace

Best Dog Treat Recipes

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