| Chocolate. Who can resist it?Your dogs
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| | stay in the bloodstream between 14 and 20
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| health depends on it! (resisting, that
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| | hours. Within two hours of ingestion, try
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| is). We humans get to indulge because
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| | inducing vomiting unless your dog is over
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| most of us know when to stop. But your
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| | stimulated, comatose, or has lost the gag
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| dog won't quit after just a few. Give her
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| | reflex.If your dog has eaten a
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| a chance and she'll down the whole box of
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| | considerable amount of chocolate, or
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| Godivas in one gulp. So on Valentine's
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| | displays any of the above symptoms, take
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| Day, you're actually being kind to your
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| | her to the vet right away. If her
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| best buddy if you eat all the chocolates
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| | symptoms are minor, make her eat
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| yourself!**Why is chocolate harmful to a
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| | activated charcoal. The unabsorbed
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| dogs health?**Chocolate, as you know, is
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| | theobromine binds to it and be passed out
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| made with cocoa beans. And cocoa beans
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| | of the system. (In a pinch, burnt - as in
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| contain methylxanthine alkaloids in the
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| | thoroughly blackened - toast will
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| form of theobromine and caffeinea, which
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| | do.)**Are there any other products I
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| are toxic to dogs. Chocolate can also
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| | should worry about?**Yes -- Cocoa
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| contain high amounts of fat which can put
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| | Mulch!!No, it's not chocolate, but the
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| your dogs health in jeopardy as
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| | two products have something in common.
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| well.**How Much is Too Much?**Though it's
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| | They're both derived from the cocoa bean,
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| certain that dogs and chocolate don't
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| | and they're both hazardous to your dogs
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| mix, different dogs react differently to
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| | health.Cocoa bean shells are a by-product
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| the methylxanthines. And reactions can
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| | of chocolate production and are popular
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| vary according to the age, size and
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| | as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like
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| overall health of the dog. The smaller
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| | the attractive color and scent, and the
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| the dog the smaller the dose needed to
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| | fact that the mulch breaks down into an
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| produce an effect.
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| | organic fertilizer.Some dogs are
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| And of course, if your dog's health is
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| | attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it
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| already weakened by other medical
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| | in varying quantities. The coca bean
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| conditions, he's more susceptible. The
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| | shells can contain from 0.2% to 3%
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| same holds for older dogs..
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| | theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to
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| Theobromine is present in differing
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| | 1-4% in unprocessed beans.Eating cocoa
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| amounts in different kinds of
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| | mulch has four possible outcomes. The
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| chocolate:· White chocolate 1mg/oz
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| | most common is vomiting, in 50% of cases.
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| · Hot chocolate 12 mg /oz
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| | Next most common, in 33% of cases, is
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| · Milk chocolate 44-66 mg/oz
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| | tremors (shaking). And 17% end up with
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| · Semi-sweet chocolate 260 mg/oz
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| | tachycardia (rapid heart rate),
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| · Dark chocolate 450 mg/oz (wow!)
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| | hyperactivity or diarrhea. The fourth
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| · Baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa
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| | outcome is no effect on the dogs health
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| powder varies as much as 150-600 mg
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| | at all, and this is the result in 33% of
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| oz.**How much chocolate can a dog eat and
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| | cases.Although only 16 cases were
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| survive?**That depends in part on her
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| | reported in approximately one year (the
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| weight.Under 200 mg theobromine per kg
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| | duration of the study), reports are on
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| body weight (91mg per lb) has not been
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| | the increase. California accounts for
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| observed to be fatal. A potentially
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| | about 2/3 of cases reported so far.
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| lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only
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| | Fortunately, there have been no reported
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| one pound of milk chocolate. Only two
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| | fatalities, and getting your friend to
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| ounces of baking chocolate can cause
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| | the vet promptly will assure a happy
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| serious problems in a 10-pound dog.
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| | outcome.**What's the Bottom Line?**Thanks
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| People stop eating chocolate before
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| | to a more educated public, fewer
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| getting to toxic levels, but dogs
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| | fatalities from foods like chocolate are
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| don't!**What are the warning signs of a
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| | being reported these days.Still, it pays
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| problem?**Any dog who's eaten chocolate
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| | to keep up with what's currently known
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| should be watched closely for symptoms,
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| | about various foods and their effects on
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| particularly smaller dogs, "seniors", and
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| | a dogs health and well being. Grapes and
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| dogs with health problems. Symptoms may
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| | cocoa mulch, for example, were discovered
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| range from from vomiting and diarrhea to
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| | only recently to have harmful effects.If
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| panting, excessive thirst and urination,
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| | your dogs health is important to you (and
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| hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm,
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| | I'm betting it is!), then keep him away
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| tremors, seizures and even death in
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| | from the chocolates on Valentine's Day
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| severe cases.While white chocolate may
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| | and other holidays as well. And watch out
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| not be as likely to cause a
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| | year round for products made from the
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| methylxanthine poisoning, the high fat
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| | cocoa bean.In an emergency, call your vet
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| content of lighter chocolates could still
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| | or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
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| lead to vomiting and diarrhea, and
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| | at 888-426-4435.Carolyn Schweitzer, a
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| possibly the development of
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| | former family dentist, is a PowerSeller
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| life-threatening pancreatitis. Too much
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| | on eBay and owner and editor of several
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| fatty food will also affect a dogs health
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| | websites, including Visit her there to
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| in the same way it does ours, by packing
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| | read about other foods that can harm your
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| on the pounds!**What can be done once
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| | dogs health, and check frequently with
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| chocolate is ingested?**Make note of the
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| | sources like the ASPCA for updates. Or
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| type of chocolate ingested and how much
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| | sign up for her "Cold Noses News" and
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| was eaten, if possible.Theobromine will
| |
| | she'll keep you informed!
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