Everyone loves chocolates. It is a sweet and delicious snack item mostly consumed as dessert. You will often find your dog sniffing around when you have snacks. But should you give your dog portions of this delicious food product? The answer is NO. The sweet and delicious food item that is very much appealing to us is not to be fed to your pet dog. Chocolates are toxic to your dog’s health. Now, you may think how much chocolate will kill a dog? if consumed in a large proportion, then it might kill your dog. In this how much chocolate can kill a dog article, you will learn about the composition of chocolates and why it is toxic for your dog.
Why is Chocolate Bad for Dogs?
The reason why is chocolate bad for dogs is because of its composition. Chocolate is made of a component known as theobromine which is harmful to dogs. It is also made up of caffeine. Now in human metabolism, chocolate and caffeine are easily digested. The digestion process does not take much time and breaks down easily in humans. But in dogs, it takes time. It builds up the toxic components slowly in the dog’s system. Dogs cannot endure the chemical effects. Now the toxicity varies from chocolate to chocolate. There are different types of chocolates with different intensities of toxicity.
Kinds Of Chocolate That Can Kill A Dog
#1 Dark chocolate
The consistency of theobromine in dark chocolate is very high. So, How much dark chocolate can kill a dog? The amount of theobromine in dark chocolate ranges from 130-450 mg per ounce will toxic to dogs.
#2 Cacao powder
It is the most toxic chocolate type for dogs as it contains the highest amount of theobromine. Theobromine contains 131mg of theobromine per tablespoon. Pure cacao powder could kill a dog easily.
#3 White chocolate
White chocolate is the least toxic as the theobromine concentration is the lowest. The concentration of theobromine in chocolate is about 0.25 mg per ounce. So, can dogs eat chocolate? Although the quantity of theobromine is the least in white chocolate, your dog still might get ill from the high contents of sugar and fat.
#4 Milk chocolate
Milk chocolate is not as toxic as other chocolates but is still more toxic than white chocolate. The concentration of theobromine in chocolate is 44-58 mg per ounce. If a dog consumes a bar of milk chocolate, it will kill the dog.
#5 Baking chocolate
Baking chocolate is similar to cacao powder. The concentration of theobromine is very high and is very much dangerous for a dog. Baking it usually contains 1597 mg of theobromine.
Signs Of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
It would help if you were worried only when chocolate consumed is more than 2 ounces. They will notify you of symptoms like unusual behavior, breathing problems, etc. Here are a few signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs
- Collapse.
- Seizures.
- Rapid breathing.
- Increased or decreased heartbeat.
- Restlessness.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Increased urination.
- High body temperature.
- Increased thirst.
The Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs are collapse, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea are frequently observed in severe circumstances. The symptoms might take a while to surface, and till then, your dog will function well. But once the symptoms are visible, you should be able to identify the cause and take your dog to the vet immediately. Severe cases of symptoms might last for days.
How Much Chocolate Can Kill A Dog?
Different chocolates have different concentrations of toxicity. So, how much chocolate can kill a dog? Well, some chocolates contain many components lethal to your dog, and some are not so dangerous as the toxic components are very few. For example, the concentration of theobromine(toxic to your dog’s health) in cacao powder is huge; therefore, it is the most lethal chocolate to exist.
If we consider two types of chocolate, concentrated and regular, the lethal property will differ for concentrated chocolate, 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight to kill a dog. But in the case of regular, where the amount of theobromine is not too much, it could take only 0.5 – 2 ounces to kill a dog. Here is a list of chocolate and its concentration of theobromine that can kill a dog.
#1 Cacao powder
A one-third pound of this chocolate can kill a dog weighing 18-20 pounds.
#2 Dark chocolate
1 Ounce could kill a dog as the concentration of theobromine is very high.
#3 White chocolate
Takes 2 ounces to kill a dog.
#4 Milk chocolate
1.5 Ounces can kill a dog.
#5 Baking chocolate
One-third of baking chocolate could easily kill a dog. The concentration level of theobromine is very high.
What To Do if your Dog Eats Chocolate?
what happens if a dog eats chocolate? For suppose, If you find out that your dog has been feasting on chocolates while you were not around, you should immediately call your vet and ask for the next step. You should take your dog to the vet; if the vet is unavailable, then you could contact the pet poison helpline. One common piece of advice to pet owners who go through similar circumstances is to monitor their dog’s symptoms. You should look out for these symptoms more carefully
- Vomiting.
- Restlessness.
- Seizures.
- Tremors.
- Frequent urination.
- Diarrhea.
So, what to do if your dog eats chocolate? If these symptoms get worse, then do not delay any more. Take your pet dog to the hospital immediately; otherwise, the situation might lead to your dog’s collapse and later death.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Eating Chocolate?
When it comes to food and snacks, it is often very difficult to keep them away from your dog as they are very sneaky and very mischievous. But you have to take care of your dog and to make sure that they remain healthy, They must enforce certain restrictions on food items. Here are a few ways to ensure that your dog doesn’t sneak around and eat what they are not supposed to
#1 Hiding and keeping away all the snacks
It is the best way to ensure that your dog doesn’t get its hands on chocolate. Hide and keep all the chocolates away in a place where it is not accessible to them. Although dogs can sometimes get their hand on almost anything, you should still ensure that they can’t access any chocolate.
#2 Training commands
You must train your dog in a way that they listen to you and your basic dog commands. If you ask them to “stop,” they should stop. The command “leave” will play an important role here.
#3 Alertness
As a pet owner, you must remember your stuff here and there. When you forget your important stuff, such as your charger or your headphones, your dog eats and destroys them. It is very natural for them. It would help if you took action against it, but it is not completely unnatural. A similar situation happens when you leave unfinished chocolates around the house. It would help if you were cautious with lethal food items for your dog.
Conclusion
It is important to be aware of how much chocolate can kill a dog, as even a small amount can be deadly. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, it is important to seek veterinary attention immediately as time is of the essence.