Dog - Chocolate

 Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

                      Chocolate contain an ingredient called theobromine ( similar to caffeine ) which is toxic to dog. As humans can easily metabolise theobromine whereas dog takes long time to metabolise theobromine which leads to accumulation of toxins in the system.

                      Though chocolate is toxic for dogs but a small amount only leads to vomitions, stomach upset and diarrhoea. Whereas, a large amount of theobromine leads to tremors, irregular heart beat, seizures and internal bleeding e.t.c leading to death of dog.

                       The onset of theobromine poisoning shows the symptoms of hyperactivity, as theobromine is a brain stem stimulant.

Chocolates with theobromine levels :

                        Cocoa ( dairy milk ), dark chocolate and cooking chocolate contains higher levels of theobromine whereas milk chocolates ( milk bar ) and white chocolates have the lowest. Lessthan an ounce of dark chocolate is enough to poison 40 dogs.

                       According to ASPCA (American Society For Prevention of Cruelty To Animals ) mild effect of theobromine poisoning can be seen at a dose rate of 20mg/kg bwt, severe signs begins if a dog consume at a rate of 40mg/kg bwt and seizures begins at 60mg/kg bwt.

Breed susceptibility to chocolate toxicity :

                      In terms of chocolate toxicity it is a matter of size and not breed. All dogs can be affected but the smaller sized dogs are more susceptible to chocolate toxicity compared to hound and large sized breeds. So smaller sized breeds like Shih tzu, Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian, Dachshund, Pug etc are more prone to chocolate toxicity.

How much chocolate does it takes to kill a dog?

                   According to researchers

Milk chocolate :

                   It is more dangerous than white chocolates and it will take just 2 ounce per kg wt of your dog to deadly poison it. 

Sweet cacao :

                 Cacao powder is itself more dangerous and just 0.6 once per kg bwt of dog can be deadly. 1/3 rd  kg can be poisonous for 20 kg wt of dog and 1/6 th kg for 10 kg wt of dog. 

Baking chocolate :

                   2 ounce is lethal to 1 kg bwt of dog. 2 ounce is enough to poison 10 kg bwt of dog.