Posted by Bernadette Dunham, DVM, PhD, and Carmen Stamper, DVM on 4/10/2013
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Health Care
Leave the Chocolate Out of
Rover’s Celebrations
By: Bernadette Dunham, DVM, PhD, and Carmen Stamper, DVM
Holidays and chocolate seem to go together. For
birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day and many other holidays — chocolate is
everywhere. But, there is someplace chocolate should never be, and that’s in
your dog. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can kill them. And since a lot of the chocolate treats might be the kids’, make sure to pass along
the message to them to never give chocolate to Rover.
Here’s why chocolate is so dangerous for
dogs: Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound in the same family as
caffeine. In certain quantities, theobromine is toxic to dogs. In
general, the minimum toxic theobromine dose in dogs ranges from 46 to 68
milligrams/pound (mg/lb). Half the dogs that consume 114 to 228 mg/lb or
greater of theobromine will die. Lots of things can play a role in whether your
dog will have a toxic reaction including the amount of chocolate your dog ate,
your dog’s size, and whether your dog happens to be extra-sensitive to
theobromine. One of the most important things in chocolate toxicity is the kind
of chocolate your dog ate. For instance:
§ Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per
oz. (704 mg theobromine/lb milk chocolate)
§ Semisweet chocolate chips contain 150mg/oz. (2400 mg
theobromine/lb semisweet chocolate)
§ Baking chocolate contains 390mg/oz. (6240 mg
theobromine/lb baking chocolate)
So, if we do the math, Rover
is eyeing the ears and tail from a leftover chocolate bunny. How much
would he have to eat to get a 46 mg/lb dose of theobromine? Depending on
the type of chocolate, he’d have to eat:
§ 1 ounce per 1 pound of his body weight of milk chocolate
bunny
§ 1 ounce per 3 pounds of his body weight of semisweet
chocolate bunny, or
§ 1 ounce per 9 pounds of his body weight of baking
chocolate bunny.
And, if Rover eats enough chocolate, he might show signs of
chocolate toxicity:
Theobromine toxicity can cause a variety of
signs ranging from mild to severe. These signs can include vomiting,
diarrhea, rapid heart rate, restlessness, hyperactivity, urinating more, muscle
spasms and seizures.
If you think your dog has eaten chocolate
call your veterinarian immediately! Only your veterinarian can determine the
proper treatment for your pet.
Bernadette Dunham, DVM, PhD, is Director of FDA’s Center for
Veterinary Medicine
Carmen Stamper, DVM, is on the Communication Staff of FDA’s Center
for Veterinary Medicine
