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