Chocolate could kill your dog
Death by chocolate? Feeding sweets to your pet is no laughing matter
mongabay.com
August 3, 2005
Not a good idea for your pet
You shoud think twice before feeding your pet a chocolate bar. The sweet treat could be its last meal.
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a strong chemical stimulant. In humans, who metabolize the alkaloid quickly, theobromine has been shown to have some beneficial effects including mood elevation, myocardial stimulation, cough surpression, and vasodilation (widening of blood vessels from relaxation of the muscular wall of the vessels).
However animals -- especially cats, dogs, horses, birds, and small pets -- are unable to effectively metabolize theobromine. If they are fed chocolate, theobromine will remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours and may cause epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, heart attacks, and even death. Chocolate is such a potent stimulant than it is banned in horse-racing as a performance-enhancing drug.
According to The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th Edition Online, "clinical signs of toxicity can occur with ingestion of ~0.04 oz (1.3 mg) of baker's chocolate or 0.4 oz (13 mg) of milk chocolate per kilogram of body weight." This means that a one-ounce (28 gram) square of baker's chocolate would cause symtoms in a 50-pound (22 kilogram) dog.
The Merck Veterinary Manual puts a lethal dose (for 50% of the canine population) at 250 and 500 mg of theobromine per kg of body weight but warns that deaths have been reported at dosages as low as 115 mg/kg. Thus were a 45 pound (20 kg) dog to eat 7.5 pounds (3.3 kg) of dark chocolate, it would only have a 50% chance of survival. Granted, that's a lot of chocolate but remember that for some dogs a lethal dose could be only half that amount. Dark chocolate generally contains about 50% more theobromine than milk chocolate.
Below are some sample estimates for selected breeds of dogs. Bear in mind that these are only estimates based on average weights for a breed. Some breeds may have higher or lower tolerances than others and toxicity varies between individuals.
Amount of Dark Chocolate causing …
Average
Intestinal
Bradycardia or
50% probability
Breed
Weight
problems
Tachyarrythmia
of death
Afghan
60 lbs (27 kg)
7.4 oz (210 g)
15.4 oz (437 g)
154.4 oz (4,371 g)
American Cocker Spaniel
26 lbs (12 kg)
3.2 oz (91 g)
6.7 oz (189 g)
66.9 oz (1,894 g)
Basset Hound
45 lbs (20 kg)
5.6 oz (158 g)
11.6 oz (328 g)
115.8 oz (3,278 g)
Beagle
26 lbs (12 kg)
3.2 oz (91 g)
6.7 oz (189 g)
66.9 oz (1,894 g)
Bloodhound
90 lbs (41 kg)
11.1 oz (315 g)
23.2 oz (656 g)
231.7 oz (6,556 g)
Border Collie
45 lbs (20 kg)
5.6 oz (158 g)
11.6 oz (328 g)
115.8 oz (3,278 g)
Borzoi
90 lbs (41 kg)
11.1 oz (315 g)
23.2 oz (656 g)
231.7 oz (6,556 g)
Boxer
70 lbs (32 kg)
8.7 oz (245 g)
18.0 oz (510 g)
180.2 oz (5,099 g)
Bulldog
50 lbs (23 kg)
6.2 oz (175 g)
12.9 oz (364 g)
128.7 oz (3,642 g)
Bulldog - American
85 lbs (39 kg)
10.5 oz (298 g)
21.9 oz (619 g)
218.8 oz (6,192 g)
Bullmastiff
127 lbs (58 kg)
15.7 oz (445 g)
32.7 oz (925 g)
326.9 oz (9,252 g)
Chihuahua
4 lbs (2 kg)
0.5 oz (14 g)
1.0 oz (29 g)
10.3 oz (291 g)
Collie
67 lbs (30 kg)
8.3 oz (235 g)
17.2 oz (488 g)
172.5 oz (4,881 g)
Dachshund (Standard)
15 lbs (7 kg)
1.9 oz (53 g)
3.9 oz (109 g)
38.6 oz (1,093 g)
Dalmatian
60 lbs (27 kg)
7.4 oz (210 g)
15.4 oz (437 g)
154.4 oz (4,371 g)
Doberman Pinscher
75 lbs (34 kg)
9.3 oz (263 g)
19.3 oz (546 g)
193.1 oz (5,464 g)
English Cocker Spaniel
31 lbs (14 kg)
3.8 oz (109 g)
8.0 oz (226 g)
79.8 oz (2,258 g)
English Setter
67 lbs (30 kg)
8.3 oz (235 g)
17.2 oz (488 g)
172.5 oz (4,881 g)
Foxhound - American
73 lbs (33 kg)
9.0 oz (256 g)
18.8 oz (532 g)
187.9 oz (5,318 g)
Golden Retriever
70 lbs (32 kg)
8.7 oz (245 g)
18.0 oz (510 g)
180.2 oz (5,099 g)
Great Dane
140 lbs (64 kg)
17.3 oz (490 g)
36.0 oz (1,020 g)
360.4 oz (10,199 g)
Greyhound
67 lbs (30 kg)
8.3 oz (235 g)
17.2 oz (488 g)
172.5 oz (4,881 g)
Irish Setter
70 lbs (32 kg)
8.7 oz (245 g)
18.0 oz (510 g)
180.2 oz (5,099 g)
Jack Russell Terrier
15 lbs (7 kg)
1.9 oz (53 g)
3.9 oz (109 g)
38.6 oz (1,093 g)
Labrador Retriever
73 lbs (33 kg)
9.0 oz (256 g)
18.8 oz (532 g)
187.9 oz (5,318 g)
Maltese
7 lbs (3 kg)
0.9 oz (25 g)
1.8 oz (51 g)
18.0 oz (510 g)
Mastiff
200 lbs (91 kg)
24.8 oz (700 g)
51.5 oz (1,457 g)
514.8 oz (14,569 g)
Pointer
65 lbs (30 kg)
8.0 oz (228 g)
16.7 oz (474 g)
167.3 oz (4,735 g)
Poodle (Toy)
8 lbs (4 kg)
1.0 oz (28 g)
2.1 oz (58 g)
20.6 oz (583 g)
Pug
16 lbs (7 kg)
2.0 oz (56 g)
4.1 oz (117 g)
41.2 oz (1,166 g)
Rhodesian Ridgeback
85 lbs (39 kg)
10.5 oz (298 g)
21.9 oz (619 g)
218.8 oz (6,192 g)
Rottweiler
112 lbs (51 kg)
13.9 oz (392 g)
28.8 oz (816 g)
288.3 oz (8,159 g)
Saint Bernard
150 lbs (68 kg)
18.6 oz (525 g)
38.6 oz (1,093 g)
386.1 oz (10,927 g)
Schnauzer (Standard)
40 lbs (18 kg)
5.0 oz (140 g)
10.3 oz (291 g)
103.0 oz (2,914 g)
Shih Tzu
12 lbs (5 kg)
1.5 oz (42 g)
3.1 oz (87 g)
30.9 oz (874 g)
Siberian Husky
53 lbs (24 kg)
6.6 oz (186 g)
13.6 oz (386 g)
136.4 oz (3,861 g)
Yorkshire
6 lbs (3 kg)
0.7 oz (21 g)
1.5 oz (44 g)
15.4 oz (437 g)
Amount of Milk Chocolate causing …
Average
Intestinal
Bradycardia or
50% probability
Breed
Weight
problems
Tachyarrythmia
of death
Afghan
60 lbs (27 kg)
11.1 oz (314 g)
23.1 oz (652 g)
230.5 oz (6,524 g)
American Cocker Spaniel
26 lbs (12 kg)
4.8 oz (136 g)
10.0 oz (283 g)
99.9 oz (2,827 g)
Basset Hound
45 lbs (20 kg)
8.3 oz (235 g)
17.3 oz (489 g)
172.9 oz (4,893 g)
Beagle
26 lbs (12 kg)
4.8 oz (136 g)
10.0 oz (283 g)
99.9 oz (2,827 g)
Bloodhound
90 lbs (41 kg)
16.6 oz (470 g)
34.6 oz (979 g)
345.8 oz (9,785 g)
Border Collie
45 lbs (20 kg)
8.3 oz (235 g)
17.3 oz (489 g)
172.9 oz (4,893 g)
Borzoi
90 lbs (41 kg)
16.6 oz (470 g)
34.6 oz (979 g)
345.8 oz (9,785 g)
Boxer
70 lbs (32 kg)
12.9 oz (366 g)
26.9 oz (761 g)
268.9 oz (7,611 g)
Bulldog
50 lbs (23 kg)
9.2 oz (261 g)
19.2 oz (544 g)
192.1 oz (5,436 g)
Bulldog - American
85 lbs (39 kg)
15.7 oz (444 g)
32.7 oz (924 g)
326.6 oz (9,242 g)
Bullmastiff
127 lbs (58 kg)
23.5 oz (664 g)
48.8 oz (1,381 g)
487.9 oz (13,808 g)
Chihuahua
4 lbs (2 kg)
0.7 oz (21 g)
1.5 oz (43 g)
15.4 oz (435 g)
Collie
67 lbs (30 kg)
12.4 oz (350 g)
25.7 oz (728 g)
257.4 oz (7,285 g)
Dachshund (Standard)
15 lbs (7 kg)
2.8 oz (78 g)
5.8 oz (163 g)
57.6 oz (1,631 g)
Dalmatian
60 lbs (27 kg)
11.1 oz (314 g)
23.1 oz (652 g)
230.5 oz (6,524 g)
Doberman Pinscher
75 lbs (34 kg)
13.9 oz (392 g)
28.8 oz (815 g)
288.1 oz (8,155 g)
English Cocker Spaniel
31 lbs (14 kg)
5.7 oz (162 g)
11.9 oz (337 g)
119.1 oz (3,371 g)
English Setter
67 lbs (30 kg)
12.4 oz (350 g)
25.7 oz (728 g)
257.4 oz (7,285 g)
Foxhound - American
73 lbs (33 kg)
13.5 oz (382 g)
28.0 oz (794 g)
280.5 oz (7,937 g)
Golden Retriever
70 lbs (32 kg)
12.9 oz (366 g)
26.9 oz (761 g)
268.9 oz (7,611 g)
Great Dane
140 lbs (64 kg)
25.9 oz (732 g)
53.8 oz (1,522 g)
537.9 oz (15,222 g)
Greyhound
67 lbs (30 kg)
12.4 oz (350 g)
25.7 oz (728 g)
257.4 oz (7,285 g)
Irish Setter
70 lbs (32 kg)
12.9 oz (366 g)
26.9 oz (761 g)
268.9 oz (7,611 g)
Jack Russell Terrier
15 lbs (7 kg)
2.8 oz (78 g)
5.8 oz (163 g)
57.6 oz (1,631 g)
Labrador Retriever
73 lbs (33 kg)
13.5 oz (382 g)
28.0 oz (794 g)
280.5 oz (7,937 g)
Maltese
7 lbs (3 kg)
1.3 oz (37 g)
2.7 oz (76 g)
26.9 oz (761 g)
Mastiff
200 lbs (91 kg)
36.9 oz (1,045 g)
76.8 oz (2,175 g)
768.4 oz (21,745 g)
Pointer
65 lbs (30 kg)
12.0 oz (340 g)
25.0 oz (707 g)
249.7 oz (7,067 g)
Poodle (Toy)
8 lbs (4 kg)
1.5 oz (42 g)
3.1 oz (87 g)
30.7 oz (870 g)
Pug
16 lbs (7 kg)
3.0 oz (84 g)
6.1 oz (174 g)
61.5 oz (1,740 g)
Rhodesian Ridgeback
85 lbs (39 kg)
15.7 oz (444 g)
32.7 oz (924 g)
326.6 oz (9,242 g)
Rottweiler
112 lbs (51 kg)
20.7 oz (585 g)
43.0 oz (1,218 g)
430.3 oz (12,177 g)
Saint Bernard
150 lbs (68 kg)
27.7 oz (784 g)
57.6 oz (1,631 g)
576.3 oz (16,309 g)
Schnauzer (Standard)
40 lbs (18 kg)
7.4 oz (209 g)
15.4 oz (435 g)
153.7 oz (4,349 g)
Shih Tzu
12 lbs (5 kg)
2.2 oz (63 g)
4.6 oz (130 g)
46.1 oz (1,305 g)
Siberian Husky
53 lbs (24 kg)
9.8 oz (277 g)
20.4 oz (576 g)
203.6 oz (5,763 g)
Yorkshire
6 lbs (3 kg)
1.1 oz (31 g)
2.3 oz (65 g)
23.1 oz (652 g)
According to The Merck Veterinary Manual, in dogs, early clinical signs of recent chocolate ingestion "usually include excitement, agitation or nervousness, increased thirst, and vomiting. In acute cases, signs most commonly develop within 12 hr. Hyperactivity, ataxia, diarrhea, or a diuresis may also be noted. Severely affected animals may have clonic muscle spasms, hyperthermia, and clonic seizures that may progress to coma. Infrequently, animals with minimal clinical signs may die suddenly, presumably due to fatal cardiac arrhythmias."
If your pet does ingest chocolate you should induce vomiting or take the animal directly to the vet.
Chocolate is meant for humans, not animals. Never feed your pet any amount of chocolate.
This article used information and text from The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th Edition Online and Wikipedia.
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