Chocolate chemicals that make dogs sick?`?

Chocolate is the third most common cause of poisoning in dogs. Certain chemicals in chocolate, notably caffeine and theobromine, can cause erratic heartbeat and in large enough doses can kill your pup.

White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to cause signs of poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds for a 10-pound dog.

Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of body weight. Approximately one pound of milk chocolate is poisonous to a 20-pound dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog. The average chocolate bar contains 2 to 3 ounces of milk chocolate. It would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10 pound dog. Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic level.

Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight. One-third of a pound of sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog; 1/6 pound for a 10-pound dog.

Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound body weight. Two one-ounce squares of bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.

The chemical is "theobromine" and it is very concentrated in BAKER'S chocolate. That chocolate is the most dangerous. Dark chocolate after that, then milk chocolate.

A small dog is more apt to get sick when getting into chocolate. If a small amount of chocolate is ingested and it isn't Baker's chocolate, it's likely nothing would happen if it is milk chocolate.

A client of mine lost a Maltese this past Christmas that got into some dark chocolate candies that were on a table.

I had a German Shepherd dog who ate a whole bag full of mixed mini chocolate candy bars, foil and all. The Vet said had she been small and eaten that much OR if it had been BAKER'S CHOCOLATE he would have been concerned.

My dog was fine, still chocolate is very bad for dogs and can kill a small one if too much is consumed or if dark chocolate is eaten in a lesser amount or if any Baker's chocolate is consumed.

Here is a site with details including signs of toxicity.

http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2000/spring...

The toxicity of chocolate depends on a few factors...size of animal, amount of chocolate ingested and sensitivity. Your dog, in the past, has probably not eaten enough chocolate to lead to a toxic reaction (thankfully) and he could not be very sensitive to theobramine (the chemical in chocolate that makes it toxic). A small dog could eat a small candy bar and develop diarrhea, vomiting etc, where as a larger dog ingesting the same amount, may not show any toxic reaction at all. In the past, my dogs have occasionally ate a dropped M&M, or chocolate chip with no problem at all, probably because it was not enough to cause a reaction. Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate is more harmful, than milk and white chocolate b/c it is a more "pure" form. Just keep in mind that enough chocolate can cause death in a pet, the smaller breeds are at more risk b/c it takes alot less to cause a reaction, than it would in a large breed dog. Hope that helps!

Chocolate contains theobromine. A naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.

The main problem is with the theobromine in the chocolate but the caffeine is bad for them too. The bakers chocolate is the worse, then semi-sweet, then dark, and then milk chocolate (which has the lowest levels of theobromine and caffeine). White chocolate has no theobromine or caffeine in it, it just can cause digestive problems if too much is ingested.

The darker the chocolate the worse it is. A dogs digestive system can not digest the choclate and it builds up in the dogs liver, this is what is harmful to them not the chemicals

From what I have learned, it is the type of caffiene in chocolate that can be fatal to dogs. Do not feed your dog ANY type of chocolate that has been developed for human consumption.

There are "chocolate" treats available in your pet store if you think they are missing out :)

Dark Chocolate is worse than Milk chocolate which is worse than drinking chocolate which is worse than white chocolate.

Sorry I can't remember the actual part of the cocoa poweder that is poision.

ALL chocolate is potentially fatal. Theobromine is the chemical that makes it poison to animals.

I dont know but i deffently know that hersheys chocolate wont hurt a dog because when i was little my dog at all my chocolate stash and wasnt harmed at all