Dogs and chocolate

[peekay74]

Hi all,
Just a quick question for you all really. Given Its Christmas and I am guessing most homes have more chocolate around than usual, at what point would you press panic button/take dog to the vets when the dog inevitably snaffles himself some!!

Ours, an eleven month old cockapoo has managed to nick a few bits here and there, but only very small and only (so far) when kids have dropped a bit. Last night he managed to pull a box of celebrations off the table, thankfully just as I walked in room so he didn't manage to get his fix - but it made me wonder, how much could he mistakenly have before I would need to act. I am guessing if he gets 1 or 2 of the mini chocolates he might get an upset tummy but any more I should take him to vet.

Is that about right or is their tolerance higher/lower than that, bearing in mind size. Heard a story of a friends dog eating a whole Easter egg and was seemingly unaffected, but that was a much bigger dog.

Question is more out of curiosity really, not about to start testing it!!!

Cheers

[bexVN]

Hopefully the above will give you the answers you need along with side effects.

Worth noting that dogs can become fixated on chocolate, so try not to give them the chance to have 'bits here and there' as it will give them the urge to seek out more!!

Also some companies are now adding theobromine to white chocolate so it can't be a given that white chocolate will be harmless.

These are guides only so some dogs will show toxicity signs on less, some more. I would advise if more than an average bar size has been eaten in one go (milk chocolate) especially if a half decent make of chocolate then vet advice would be advisable. Dark chocolate far more caution needed.

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 29th December 10:11

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 29th December 10:15

Edited by bexVN on Thursday 29th December 10:16

[peekay74]

Thank you Bex, that is very useful.
I have no intention of him having any but with a houseful of 3-12yr olds it has been inevitable that he has hoovered some from the floor. I can understand your 'fixated' point though as he must have got a taste last night of some of the chocolate (wrapped) he got in his mouth last night as he was walking around kitchen with his nose up sniffing for about an hour afterwards! It was actually quite interesting and funny to watch!!
Again, thank you.

[bexVN]

My first whippet was a nightmare with chocolate. He once got into a almost zipped up bag and opened and consumed almost a box of roses. Luckily more fondant filling than chocolate but he really went out of his way to get that chocolate!!

[Mexican cuties]

also don't forget that mince pies with raisins can be toxic

[Andy_mr2sc]

My X Mrs killed our miniature schnauzer (after we'd split) by leaving a large bar of dairy milk within reach of him, knowing full well he was very food orientated.

Lovely lady....

[LordHaveMurci]

Andy_mr2sc said:

My X Mrs killed our miniature schnauzer (after we'd split) by leaving a large bar of dairy milk within reach of him, knowing full well he was very food orientated.

Lovely lady....

Are you suggesting she did it deliberately?

[Sy1441]

My chocolate lab eat 1kg of thorntons chocolates that he sniffed out in a gift we were given which was under the tree. He was fine. He does eat vindaloo and stuff though, he's a bit of a dustbin.

[bexVN]

Sy1441 said:

My chocolate lab eat 1kg of thorntons chocolates that he sniffed out in a gift we were given which was under the tree. He was fine. He does eat vindaloo and stuff though, he's a bit of a dustbin.

The worry is on the heart. Theobromine causes tachycardia and potentially heart arrhythmia so the hyperexcitement seen post chocolate is actually the heart going into overdrive, for some this can lead to seizures and death (others just Vomiting and diarrhiea)

[xjay1337]

LordHaveMurci said:

Andy_mr2sc said:

My X Mrs killed our miniature schnauzer (after we'd split) by leaving a large bar of dairy milk within reach of him, knowing full well he was very food orientated.

Lovely lady....

Are you suggesting she did it deliberately?

Probably why she is an X...

[dudleybloke]

I tried dog with chocolate back in Korea but the flavours don't go well together.

[Andy_mr2sc]

xjay1337 said:

LordHaveMurci said:

Andy_mr2sc said:

My X Mrs killed our miniature schnauzer (after we'd split) by leaving a large bar of dairy milk within reach of him, knowing full well he was very food orientated.

Lovely lady....

Are you suggesting she did it deliberately?

Probably why she is an X...

No she didn't do it deliberately it's just a case of laziness combined with a lack of responsibility.

[jammy-git]

Mexican cuties said:

also don't forget that mince pies with raisins can be toxic

Even minute amounts and there is no way to tell how much will be toxic or fatal to your particular dog!

[Autopilot]

A friends cocker spaniel ate 2 or 3 small squares of Dairy Milk and it ended up on the critical list for almost a week!

We rarely give the dogs any 'human' food due to the amount of things that can be harmful to them so would rather play it safe. Onions, grapes, artificial sweeteners (Xylitol), the list goes on!

[Mr Tom]

It's all well and good putting up the mgs per kg of cocoa/chocolate that a dog needs before attention but I think if a dog eats chocolate you should ring your vet to confirm. I tend to make dogs sick when the consume any amount of chocolate as owners tend not to know how much or what kind it was. For the sake of a one off inj and a trip to the vets I would say it is a good plan.

[CAPP0]

Autopilot said:

A friends cocker spaniel ate 2 or 3 small squares of Dairy Milk and it ended up on the critical list for almost a week!

We rarely give the dogs any 'human' food due to the amount of things that can be harmful to them so would rather play it safe. Onions, grapes, artificial sweeteners (Xylitol), the list goes on!

I was told today that peanut butter now contains a sweetener toxic to dogs (maybe the one above, not sure) - something else to be aware of!

[anonymous-user]

I had to take my 3 to the emergency vet at 3am this morning as one of them had managed to eat a full tub of Quality Street... £600 quid later they are all OK and the culprit was found.

We had kept them in top of our fridge but somehow they fell off. It's good job we heard the noise of the tub moving on a stone floor or else it could have been a lot worse.

[bexVN]

Mr Tom said:

It's all well and good putting up the mgs per kg of cocoa/chocolate that a dog needs before attention but I think if a dog eats chocolate you should ring your vet to confirm. I tend to make dogs sick when the consume any amount of chocolate as owners tend not to know how much or what kind it was. For the sake of a one off inj and a trip to the vets I would say it is a good plan.

Well I provided the information the owner was after. Informing and educating is relevant and most owners can read the packets for weight etc, however yes if in doubt a phone call and a visit has to be the advice.

We had an owner freaking out once because he was told to rush down with his dog because it had eaten chocolate. When I triaged him it turned out the dog had eaten 2 mini eggs. We did not induce Vomiting!! (the dog was young fit and healthy) Had he had proper questioning on the phone that whole stressful episode for him could have been avoided!

Edited by bexVN on Friday 30th December 18:42

[bexVN]

CAPP0 said:

Autopilot said:

A friends cocker spaniel ate 2 or 3 small squares of Dairy Milk and it ended up on the critical list for almost a week!

We rarely give the dogs any 'human' food due to the amount of things that can be harmful to them so would rather play it safe. Onions, grapes, artificial sweeteners (Xylitol), the list goes on!

I was told today that peanut butter now contains a sweetener toxic to dogs (maybe the one above, not sure) - something else to be aware of!

You are right it is xylitol, which is in lots of things but obviously people use peanut butter a lot for reward etc for their dogs. More toxic than chocolate apparently!

[bexVN]

Autopilot said:

A friends cocker spaniel ate 2 or 3 small squares of Dairy Milk and it ended up on the critical list for almost a week!

We rarely give the dogs any 'human' food due to the amount of things that can be harmful to them so would rather play it safe. Onions, grapes, artificial sweeteners (Xylitol), the list goes on!

Do they know why it ended up so critical on such a tiny amount because that is extremely unusual unless it had other health issues (eg bad heart)?