Is Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs Truth or Myth?
By Tom Gosselin

This is no myth. In fact if there is one important facet regarding keeping your dog healthy for many years to come it is to keep chocolate away from your dog. While chocolates are a special treat for humans and kids really love it, your dog can not take it. If you have kids it is especially important to make them understand just how dangerous chocolate is to your dog.

Many people are very surprised to learn of chocolate poisoning in dogs. They think it is cute when their child is eating chocolate and shares some with the dog. The reality is this cute treat can kill your dog, yes KILL!

Researchers have found that certain types of candy are more toxic than others. This is true regardless of the breed. By giving small amounts to dogs they will crave more chocolate. It’s almost an instant addiction. However, chocolate poisoning can happen instantly creating epileptic type seizures in dogs.

OK, why is chocolate so poisonous?

It’s not so much the sugar as it is the cocoa beans. The beans contain theobromine and it is very poisonous to dogs. It creates havoc on the central nervous system and heart. Different types of chocolate have different amounts of theobromine. Regardless of the amount you should not experiment with giving dogs any amount of chocolate.

What are the symptoms?

Your dog may become extremely hyperactive almost as if he has a sugar rush. He will become restless, have muscle twitches and even pant excessively. But more severe symptoms can occur such as diarrhea and vomiting. The symptoms can lead to muscle tremors, seizures, coma and death.

What to do for accidental ingestion

Keep in mind that some dogs will get into anything including chocolate. They are tempted by the smell and after a few licks they will decide this is something good to eat. You must be prepared on how to give first aid to your dog immediately.

First thing to do is you must begin to induce vomiting before the chocolate is digested to reduce the amount of poison that will have an effect on your dog. The simplest way to do this is to use hydrogen peroxide in your dog’s mouth every 15 minutes until it vomits.

If your dog ingests a large amount or is in distress you should take him to your veterinarian for medical assistance immediately. If you are unsure just how much is ingested it is best to take him to the veterinarian for an examination.

Having a dog is a great responsibility and you should always take care to keep certain foods away from your dog. It is no different than keeping poisons away from your children. Be sure to teach your children about the importance of keeping chocolate away from your dog. This is one treat that your dog can do without.

For more information about keeping your dog healthy please visit www.dog-diet-secrets.com.