Did you know that in the US alone, 55 million dogs are reported as pets. Of these reported as pets, 16 million dogs are said to be pure breeds while 39 million are mongrels. Dogs are said to have been domesticated years ago, with one being found in China dating back to 4600BC. In terms of health and science, there are many matters which can be discussed and learned about chocolate. But one that is interesting to look at is the effect it has on a dog if eaten. So let us go over at what happens when a dog consumes too much chocolate and see how much chocolate hurts a dog…
Chocolate can be toxic to dogs. It contains a compound called theobromine that is toxic to dogs, but they don’t metabolize it as quickly as humans do. This means that it takes longer for a dog’s body to clear out the theobromine and its effects.
How much chocolate is bad for a dog?
Dogs can eat small amounts of chocolate safely, but it depends on two things: how much they’ve eaten and how big they are. A smaller dog will have less of an impact from eating chocolate than a larger one would.
If your dog eats more than their usual amount of food, you should always call your vet and ask them what you should do next. Your vet may recommend an x-ray or blood test in order to determine if there are any complications from eating too much chocolate.
How much chocolate is bad for a dog
Chocolate is a no-no for dogs.
It’s no secret that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea and increased urination. Theobromine can also be deadly in high doses to dogs since it dilates blood vessels in both humans and animals—making it easier for toxins to enter their bodies.
When you consider how much a dog weighs compared to how much chocolate he or she could eat before getting sick or worse, you’ll realize that even one square of dark chocolate could potentially be fatal for your furry friend!
More theobromine in a chocolate, the more harmful it can be for your dog.
Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant and can be poisonous to animals. It’s found in chocolate, tea, cola drinks and other foods. Dogs are more sensitive to theobromine than people. The amount of theobromine in chocolate varies by type:
Milk chocolate contains 3-15 milligrams per ounce (or 28 grams). Semi-sweet or dark chocolates have between 10-40 milligrams per ounce (or 28 grams). White chocolates contain less than 10 milligrams per ounce (or 28 grams), but some white chocolates may have even higher levels of theobromine depending on how they’re made or what kind of cacao beans are used to make them
The toxicity depends on your dog’s size, weight and health condition.
The toxicity of chocolate depends on your dog’s size and weight. Smaller dogs are more susceptible to poisoning because they have a higher surface area-to-mass ratio than large dogs; this means that they absorb more toxin per pound of body weight. Because they don’t weigh as much, small dogs can easily become sick from ingesting just a few pieces of chocolate while big dogs may only fall ill after they’ve consumed far more.
A dog’s health status is also important when determining whether or not he has been poisoned by chocolate. Dogs with heart conditions or diabetes are at an increased risk for severe symptoms like seizures, coma and even death due to the stimulant properties in cocoa powder. If your pooch has a history of pancreatitis (an inflammation or infection of the pancreas), he should avoid eating anything containing chocolate because it might trigger another attack if he is predisposed toward this particular condition.
The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the risk of toxicity.
The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the risk of toxicity.
Chocolate contains two major compounds: caffeine and Theobromine. Theobromine is toxic to dogs, but it’s also what makes chocolate so delicious!
The amount of actual cocoa butter in chocolate can vary widely depending on how much milk was used during processing and what type of chocolate you’re looking at.* Small amounts of milk (like milk chocolate) can significantly reduce the level of Theobromine in a particular product—but not if it’s very dark or bitter. For example: baking bars have much less milk fat than any other form of baking chocolate making them more likely to be toxic for your pets than other forms which contain a higher percentage of cocoa butter
Some symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity.
- Some symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity.
- These symptoms can take place up to 24 hours after the dog has eaten chocolate.
- In some cases, dogs will experience seizures or tremors as well as an irregular heart rhythm.
If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately.
If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you aren’t sure whether or not your pet has eaten chocolate, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. The helpline is open 24/7 and can help you determine whether to take action.
Chocolate isn’t good for your dog — even a small amount can make them sick
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that can cause severe illness in dogs. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs may have a seizure or die.
The darker the chocolate the more toxic it is to your dog. The higher the percentage of cocoa in dark or baking chocolate, the greater its toxicity to your dog. The following table shows common forms of chocolate and how much would be potentially toxic to a 20 pound dog based on their size:
- One ounce (28 g) milk chocolate bar = 0 calories
- 1/4 cup semisweet chips = 110 calories
- 1 ounce unsweetened baker’s chocolate = 150 calories