Avoiding Easter Chocolates
March 31, 2010 by Paris and John
Filed under Holidays & Your Dog, Safety, Tips
With Easter just around the corner, many families are planning on a weekend of Easter egg hunts and sweet fun–including chocolate. However, if you have a dog or a cat, it’s not a good idea to share that chocolate with them.
Chocolate contains two active ingredients, caffeine and theobromine, both of which can make your pet sick. Dogs are more likely than cats to become poisoned from eating chocolate; cats don’t appear to have as much of a sweet tooth as our canine companions.
Signs of Chocolate Toxicity
The initial signs of chocolate toxicity are vomiting and diarrhea. Your dog will breathe quickly, and his heart will race. If he has eaten a high enough dose of chocolate, he will start convulsing, and he may die.
So, how much is too much? Dark cooking chocolate has more toxic ingredients than either milk chocolate or white chocolate, and unsweetened baking chocolate has most of all. Eight ounces of milk chocolate is enough to potentially kill a 10-pound dog.
If Your Dog Eats Chocolate
If you suspect your dog has stolen some chocolate, give your veterinarian a call with information on your dog’s body weight, the quantity of chocolate that is missing, and what type of chocolate it is. She will be able to work out how much caffeine and theobromine has been eaten, and whether or not your dog is likely to become sick. Treatment is basically supportive until your dog recovers – intravenous fluids, activated charcoal and muscle relaxants to control any tremors or seizures.
Alternate Treats
There are some treats that are safe to give your dog at Easter. Carob is not at all dangerous to dogs, and they seem to enjoy it. Alternatively, whip up a batch of home made dog biscuits for him. There are many recipes on the net for delicious biscuits that contain liver and other meat products, and your dog will love them. (Also, see our Carrot Cake Dog Cookie recipe here on DogTipper!) If you’re pressed for time, pick up a dog treat from the supermarket on your way home from work – he’ll enjoy that too.
Sharing your chocolate with your dog just is not worth the risk to his health. This is one time when it’s a good idea to keep all your chocolate to yourself!
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