Theobromine and Canines
While more and more studies are showing that chocolate is actually good for humans, chocolate can be dangerous and sometimes fatal to other animals. This is because of the chemical theobromine (the same one that helps inhibit coughs and has other beneficial effects on human health). Whereas humans have a mechanism for easily metabolizing theobromine, dogs do not. In fact, the half-life--the time it takes for half of the chemical ingested to be metabolized--of theobromine in a dog’s body is 17.5 hours. The half-life for theobromine in a human is much shorter (although different sources indicate different amounts of time; some say it is three hours for humans, while others say it is eight).
The Symptoms of Theobromine Poisoning in Dogs
If a dog has ingested dangerous amounts of chocolate, he will usually begin to show symptoms within an hour or two. Nervousness and shakiness are quite common, as are vomiting and diarrhea. Increased urination, irritability, and seizures are also signs of chocolate poisoning. If you see these symptoms in your dog, call a vet immediately. You will most likely need to bring your pet to the vet so that she can help alleviate the symptoms caused by theobromine ingestion (there is no antidote).
What Can Your Vet Do?
If you are able to get your pet to the veterinarian within two hours of the ingestion of chocolate, they may be able to help by inducing vomiting. Giving the dog active charcoal can help prevent more of the chemical from being absorbed. Other than that, most treatments involve minimizing the dog’s symptoms and reactions. For example, providing anti-seizure medication in the event that the dog is seizing or giving muscle relaxants to a dog that is having spasms. After these measures are taken, it is a matter of waiting for the toxin to be eliminated naturally.
Cocoa Mulch and Pets
During spring and summer, it is important to remember that mulch made out of cacao bean shells contains a significant amount of theobromine, and is therefore quite dangerous for pets. Cocoa mulch is popular because of the pleasant chocolate aroma that it gives off, but it is precisely this scent that makes it dangerous. If you own pets, it is safest to continue using more traditional mulches rather than cocoa mulch--if you do choose to use the mulch, try to make sure that animals are not allowed near it.
What Kind of Chocolate is Worst for Pets?
The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for animals (the reverse is true for humans). That is because darker chocolate contains more theobromine, and therefore less must be consumed before a toxic dose is reached. Milk chocolate has much less theobromine than baking chocolate or cocoa, and is therefore less dangerous—more often causing the milder gastrointestinal symptoms rather than major symptoms. Whereas it would likely take several candy bars to provide a toxic dose of milk chocolate to a 10 lb. dog, a mere ounce of baking chocolate can be deadly. However, because dogs have different levels of tolerance, it is safest to keep all types of chocolate away from them.