What to do after your dog has eaten chocolate
The same chocolate which we enjoy is highly toxic to dogs, and depending on the type and amount your best friend ingests, it can cause a serious medical emergency. The problem with chocolate is that it contains caffeine and theobromine. These two ingredients are known to increase the heart rate and act as a nervous system stimulant to dogs. If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate, you should closely monitor him for any signs of toxicity and, if confirmed, call in a vet to resolve the issue immediately.
Looking out for chocolate poisoning symptoms
The tricky thing about chocolate poisoning is that the symptoms do not show up immediately, but take between six and twelve hours to start manifesting. The most common symptoms include:
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Restlessness and increased urination
- Heightened heart rates and seizures
If your dog has a previous heart condition, and you suspect that they have eaten chocolate, you are advised to see an emergency vet as soon as you find out to prevent sudden death.
How the size of the dog will affect the outcome
Smaller dogs tend to have a harder time eliminating chocolate from their systems than large dogs. The type of chocolate that the dog has eaten also plays a role in determining the severity of the outcome. For instance, if your dog has eaten cocoa powder, the possibility of getting toxicity is very high. On the other hand, the possibility of getting poisoned after eating white chocolate is very low. The difference occurs because of the difference in theobromine concentration in the different chocolate types.
Treatment for chocolate poisoning
When your dog starts exhibiting signs of poisoning and you call pet emergency services, the vet will either come to you or ask you to take your pet to the clinic. The best treatment for the poisoning is giving medication which induces vomiting. Alternatively, the vet will give your pet activated charcoal. The charcoal removes the toxins from your pet without getting absorbed into the bloodstream.
The simplest way to deal with chocolate poisoning in pets is teaching your pet to leave it and always making sure that no chocolate product is within its reach. However, when a mistake happens and your dog ingests chocolate, you are advised to call an emergency vet immediately. Give them information about the type of chocolate, dog breed and size and medical history of the dog and they will help save your dog from serious poisoning.