I love chocolate. In fact, I could go for some right now. But the idea of pairing the two together, even in a seemingly innocent way, made me cringe. However, after finding this question on Yahoo Answers, I just had to know the answer. Something you should know about me: I have absolutely no problem with killing cats. I’m not a cat person. My girlfriend disagrees with that sentiment and has even taken it out on my dog (the little jerk deserved it). Which is precisely why I was so anxious to see how long it takes for chocolate to kill a cat. And if you are too, or if you just want to see sick images of dead cats — which I believe we can all agree is as entertaining as anything else is — then keep reading!
How much chocolate will kill a cat, dog, or other pet?
The answer may surprise you.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats and all other pets. In fact, it’s even toxic to humans. But how much chocolate does it take to harm or kill your pet? And how long does it take for chocolate to kill a dog?
The good news is that the amount of chocolate required to cause serious harm to your pet depends on the size of your animal and its body weight. It’s also important to note that dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate because it contains more caffeine and theobromine — both of which can be lethal in large amounts.
A little bit of dark chocolate won’t hurt your cat, but if they eat enough to make them sick, then it could be fatal. So it’s a good idea to keep chocolate away from your cat.
If you have a dog and you want to know how much chocolate will kill it, then you should know that it takes about seven pounds of dark chocolate to kill an average-sized dog. It also depends on how old your dog is and whether or not he has eaten any other food before eating the chocolate. If he has eaten food before eating the chocolate then it can take less than seven pounds of dark chocolate to kill him because he will have built up an immunity against some of its effects.
The amount of dark versus milk chocolate required to cause illness or death in dogs varies depending on the breed of dog and its age; however, generally speaking, smaller dogs are more susceptible to poisoning than larger dogs due to their smaller body size. Dogs weighing less than 10 pounds should not be given any type of chocolate at all because even one ounce could be fatal!
How much chocolate will kill a dog
It is not unusual for a dog to steal chocolate from the kitchen counter.
You should not feel bad if your dog has a penchant for chocolate. The fact is that it’s not unusual for a dog to steal chocolate from the kitchen counter, or eat a whole box of cookies in one sitting (and then vomit it up). Dogs are opportunistic creatures and are drawn to food, especially sweet treats like chocolate.
However, you should keep in mind that chocolate can be potentially toxic to your pet. While eating small amounts of dark chocolate may not cause serious harm or even sickness, large amounts will most likely result in gastrointestinal upset and possibly death if consumed regularly or over extended periods of time.
The symptoms of chocolate toxicity can be subtle at first.
When a dog eats chocolate, the symptoms can be subtle at first. Vomiting, diarrhoea and agitation are common signs that something’s wrong. Muscle tremors, seizures and increased heart rate may also be present.
If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog has eaten chocolate or other products containing cocoa powder or chocolate liquor (such as brownies), contact your veterinarian immediately!
The amount of chocolate ingested is key in determining whether your dog will become ill or not.
The amount of chocolate ingested is key in determining whether your dog will become ill or not. The amount of theobromine, which is toxic to dogs, varies depending on:
- The type of chocolate (cocoa solids vary by percent)
- Whether milk was added to the chocolate
- How much milk was added
The most dangerous kinds of food for dogs are dark or semi-sweet chocolates containing cocoa solids at least 60% and milk products in any quantity.
Both the type and amount of chocolate ingested are important factors in determining the severity of poisoning.
Chocolate poisoning occurs when a dog eats chocolate. Theobromine and caffeine are the toxic ingredients in chocolate. Theobromine is the more toxic of the two, which means that dark or baking chocolate can be lethal to your dog.
How much is too much depends on your dog’s size, but as a general rule, smaller dogs can eat less than larger ones before becoming ill. So if you have a small breed like a Yorkie or Chihuahua in your family, keep that bar of dark chocolate out of reach!
Chocolate toxicity does not have a single antidote.
The first thing to know is that chocolate toxicity does not have a single antidote.
The veterinarian will probably try to make your dog vomit, but if it’s been more than an hour or two since your dog ate the chocolate (and it may be longer if the chocolate was in pieces), then this isn’t likely to be effective.
If your dog has already vomited and still shows signs of severe poisoning, they can give him/her charcoal to absorb the poison. They may give him/her IV fluids with electrolytes and maybe even some other medications as well like antacids or laxatives just in case there are other foods being absorbed too quickly through his/her system. Some vets will also administer muscle relaxants such as diazepam (Valium) or carisprodol (Soma) because dogs can become hyperactive when given stimulants such as caffeine or epinephrine (adrenaline).
Make sure to keep any chocolate out of reach of pets
Make sure to keep any chocolate out of reach of pets. While it is unlikely that your dog will eat enough chocolate to be fatal, it’s still very important that you store your treats in a secure place where he can’t get them. You should also make sure the rest of your family knows about the dangers so they can help you keep an eye on their furry friend.