What happens if a dog drinks hot chocolate?
However, some dogs are more sensitive, and any chocolate ingestion should be checked out by your vet or the pet poison control hotline (1-888-426-4435, expect a small fee to speak to a vet) to avoid illness or death. Chocolate will cause excitability, irritability, restlessness, and increased heart rate.
How much hot chocolate is toxic to dogs?
Cardiac symptoms of chocolate toxicity occur around 40 to 50 mg/kg, and seizures occur at dosages greater than 60 mg/kg. In simpler terms, that means a very concerning dose of chocolate is approximately one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight.
How long does it take for chocolate to affect dogs?
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning will usually show within six to 12 hours, but could appear within one hour. If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, act immediately and don’t wait for the signs to appear. We always recommend seeking veterinary advice if you have any concerns about the health of your pets.
What happens if dogs eat chocolate?
Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine (a bit like caffeine), which is toxic to dogs. Symptoms of dog chocolate poisoning include vomiting (which may include blood), diarrhoea, restlessness and hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tension, incoordination, increased heart rate and seizures.
What should I do when my dog eats chocolate?
The most common way vets treat chocolate poisoning is to use fluids and IV drugs, he says. For example, they’ll use a drug called apomorphine to force vomiting, stomach pumping to flush the stomach with fluids, and medicine called activated charcoal to prevent the chocolate from getting into your dog’s blood.
What do I do if my dog ate chocolate?
Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline to see if a poisonous amount of chocolate was ingested. If a toxic amount is ingested, you should have your dog examined by a veterinarian immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the better your dog’s prognosis.