Chocolate
bunnies and eggs make fine Easter treats for people, but they should be
kept away from dogs. Dogs enjoy the taste of chocolate, and they will
search it out. The toxic ingredient is theobromine. The amount of
theobromine varies by the type of chocolate. Darker chocolate has more
theobromine and are more toxic. Cocoa powder is the most toxic. Low
toxic levels can cause vomiting and diarrhea, higher doses arrhythmias.
Body Weight (lbs)
|
Milk Chocolate (oz)
|
Semisweet, Sweet Dark, Instant Cocoa
|
Unsweetened, Bakers, 70% Cocoa
|
Unsweetened Dry Cocoa Powder
|
Moderate/Severe
|
||||
5
|
2/4
|
0.7/1.5
|
0.25/0.5
|
0.15/0.3
|
10
|
4/7
|
1.5/3
|
0.5/1
|
0.3/0.6
|
20
|
7/14
|
3/5.5
|
1/2
|
0.6/1.2
|
30
|
10/21
|
4/8.5
|
1.5/3
|
0.8/1.7
|
50
|
18/35
|
7/14
|
2.5/5
|
1.4/2.8
|
75
|
27/53
|
11/21
|
4/8
|
2/4
|
If you suspect
your dog has eaten a toxic amount of chocolate, we recommend inducing
vomiting. This can be done at home with hydrogen peroxide. The amount is
one teaspoon for every five pounds of dog. This can be repeated up to
three times if needed. Vomiting to be successful at removing toxins
should be done within the first thirty minutes, and even best case
scenario only forty to sixty percent of the stomach contents are
expelled. Dogs who have eaten toxic amounts of chocolate should be
brought to the hospital for further treatment. Here we will administer
activated charcoal, place on intravenous fluids, and monitor and control
arrhythmias.