Dog eats a little chocolate

Dogs should not eat chocolate as it can easily lead to poisoning. Although chocolate is non-toxic to humans, it is highly toxic to dogs. Chocolate poisoning is mainly caused by caffeine, which directly stimulates the dog's myocardium and central nervous system. In the early stage, it can cause mental excitement, accelerated heartbeat, and in the later stage, mental depression, vomiting, etc. If a dog accidentally eats chocolate, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.

What to do if a dog eats chocolate

In the early stage of chocolate poisoning, hydrogen peroxide can be used to induce vomiting and then the dog should be quickly sent to an animal hospital. Oral administration of activated carbon can also be given to absorb the toxins. For the middle and late stages of poisoning, treatment methods include detoxification, sedation, relief of arrhythmias, and fluid replacement to regulate electrolyte balance. The main components of chocolate are caffeine and theobromine, which cause poisoning because dogs lack the enzymes to break them down.

Symptoms of dog eating chocolate

Symptoms of dogs eating chocolate include:

Thirst
Drinking a lot of water
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Incontinence
Mental restlessness
Hyperactivity
Seizures
Convulsions
Coma
Tachycardia
Hypertension
Shortness of breath

These symptoms usually appear two hours after the dog eats chocolate. It is recommended that the owner take the dog to the hospital for inspection and treatment within two hours.

Why do dogs get poisoned after eating chocolate?

Chocolate contains a large amount of theobromine, which is a methylxanthine derivative. Dogs cannot effectively excrete it after ingestion, and eating a large amount can lead to poisoning. Methylxanthines are potent central nervous system stimulants that can cause sensory hypersensitivity, keeping the dog in a state of excitement. Eventually, this results in neural fatigue, oversensitivity, tachycardia, heart failure, respiratory depression, and death.