Is Chocolate Toxic to Your Pets?

March 2015 - Pet Poison Prevention Month

Is Chocolate Toxic to Your Pets

I can't tell you how many people have asked me if chocolate is toxic to thir pets.  My answer is always, well it depends.  It certainly can be and has caused deaths in dogs previously.  March is Pet Poison Prevention Month and I thought I would start off with discussing chocolate toxicity in dogs.

Of all candy, chocolate is one of the most toxic.  In 2011, the hotline received more than 1,100 calls involving mostly dogs and chocolate.  Dogs love the smell of chocolate….hey, don’t we all?   Another interesting fact is that the darker the chocolate, and more bitter, the more poisonous it is.  The most toxic chemical in chocolate is methylxanthines, which is similar to caffeine, and dark chocolate has a more heavy concentration of it.  A 50lb dog can only ingest 1 oz of dark chocolate and be very sickened by it.  However, the same dog may have to eat up to 8 ozs of milk chocolate to become ill by it.  

White chocolate, on the other hand, has very low concentrations of methylxanthines and will rarely cause toxic poisoning.  As we baby proof our homes, it’s important to pet proof them as well, during any holidays.  Keep all candies and décor out of the reach of your pets to avoid any issues.  Nothing sucks worse during the holidays than having to rush your pet to an emergency animal hospital.

Signs and Symptoms of Chocolate Toxic Poisoning:

· V & D

· Lethargy 

· Increased Thirst

· Agitation

· Elevated HR

· Seizures (in severe cases)

If your pet has consumed any type of toxins and is showing symptoms, call your vet or:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline

(888) 4ANIHELP (426-4435)

There is a charge for this call, but it includes all follow-up calls as necessary 

in critical cases, and will contact their vet if requested.

Teri Ann Tate is an Instructor for Pet CPR and Equine First Aid.  She teaches throughout AZ and Southern California.  She is also a certified EMT; an Emergency Animal Medical Tech I (EAMT I); certified Large Animal Rescue Tech II (LART II); and a certified Wilderness EMT (WEMT).  She runs a pet care business, Comfy Pets of AZ and has a passion for animals as well as the great outdoors.  To learn more about her business and classes, go to http://www.comfypetsofaz.com