Why chocolate can be dangerous for dogs
Question: How toxic is chocolate for dogs and why?
A: Chocolate ingestion and potential toxicity is a very common question and a problem that we see in our hospital, particularly this time of year after trick or treat and even during the rest of the holiday season. Chocolate contains compounds called methylxanthines, specifically theobromine and caffeine. Dogs cannot metabolize these compounds nearly as well as humans, so they accumulate within their body leading to potentially life-threatening conditions.
The clinical signs we see will depend on the amount of methylxanthines that have been ingested. Different types of chocolate contain different concentrations of these compounds. Generally, unsweetened baker’s chocolate and dark chocolates are the most dangerous as they will contain a very high level of methylxanthines. Milk chocolate has a much lower concentration, and white chocolate has a nearly negligible amount of these compounds.
If your dog does eat any chocolate, try to obtain the amount and type of chocolate so that your veterinarian can perform the most appropriate treatment. Your veterinarian will use that information and your dog’s size to make a calculation of how many milligrams of methylxanthines were ingested per pound of body weight.
Clinical signs can appear within a few hours after ingestion and can last for days. Early signs might include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and/or increased thirst. Signs can progress to hyperactivity, stumbling, tremors or seizures and/or irregular heart rhythms.
If a dog has recently swallowed the chocolate, your veterinarian will give a medication to induce vomiting to attempt to remove as much toxin as possible. A medication likely will also be given for the dog to swallow that will attempt to bind any of the toxin remaining in the bowels so that it cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Other medications that your veterinarian might give will be to counter the clinical signs the dog is experiencing. The goal is to effectively manage any potentially life-threatening clinical signs and provide supportive care until the danger has passed.
Not only is chocolate dangerous because of the methylxanthine content, but it also has a high fat content that can cause an inflammation of the pancreas and other gastrointestinal problems. Q: How long did it take you to become a veterinarian?
A: We both knew at a young age that we wanted to become veterinarians when we grew up. We had always heard that being accepted into veterinary professional school was difficult, so we had to do well in our school work to achieve that goal.
After high school, most people will need to attend college for four years to obtain an undergraduate degree. During those four years, you must complete prerequisite coursework that has a heavy focus on science and math in order to apply to veterinary professional school.
There are 32 accredited veterinary schools in the United States and about 3,200 students graduate each year to become veterinarians. Veterinary professional school typically lasts four years. At the end of that time, those students can choose to complete an internship, start a specialization residency or start practicing as a general doctor of veterinary medicine. Internships typically last one year, while residencies usually last three years. If all that time is added up, it certainly amounts to a significant amount of one’s life to be a veterinarian. In spite of the long education (and debt), our job is fantastic, rewarding and worth it!