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Why Can’t Dogs Eat Chocolates
By doglover | July 25, 2010
People love dogs. Pet owners unaware of the dangerous effect of some people food to animals would share whatever they are eating with the pet. A pet owner would wonder why foods that give humans a lot of benefits would be harmful to dogs. Although humans and dogs have similarities in genetics, they differ in so many ways. One of these differences is the dog’s inability to digest chocolates. Not many pet owners are aware of the toxic effect of chocolates to their pets. Chocolates are comfort foods that give humans loads of benefits. Chocolates and dogs though is a bad combination.
The substance theobromine in chocolate is the reason why this world’s most loved treat is toxic to dogs. Cocoa beans from where chocolates are derived contains the substance theobromine. Theobromine serves as a stimulant and causes frequent urination, affects the kidneys and the heart muscles as well as the central nervous system. Unlike humans, a dog’s system does not have the ability to digest this substance. A dog that continuously ingest small amount of chocolates will eventually develop a variety of medical concerns because the dog’s inability to digest theobromine would result to an accumulation of this toxic substance.
Dog owners have this habit of sharing anything they eat with the pet thus a slice of chocolate cake or a bite of the chocolate bar will be tossed to the dog. No signs of poisoning will be noticed if the dog has consumed small amount of chocolate. Chocolate is dose dependent meaning that a dog has to ingest about 100 to 150 milligrams per kilogram of dog body weight before the toxicity level can be reached. The level poisoning would depend on the type of chocolate consumed. Because white chocolates is low in theobromine content, the toxicity level is also low. About 200 ounces of white chocolates must be consumed before signs of chocolate poisoning will be seen. Milk chocolates and semi-sweet chocolates have higher theobromine content. The baking chocolate is the most dangerous ass it has the highest theobromine content. Dog owners don’t normally give the dog baking chocolate but knowing the voracious appetite of these animals, it is still possible for the dog to gorge on the dangerous food. This situation calls for immediate treatment to save the life of the pet. It is always good to know what to do if your dog eats chocolate.
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