Chocolate is toxic to dogs, as it contains an alkaloid called theobromine that can speed up the heart rate, raise blood pressure, and even cause seizures. If your four-legged friend has eaten chocolate, you need to address this issue right away, because the more chocolate and the longer it stays in his digestive system, the more dangerous it becomes.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Seek Medical Help
Step 1. Evaluate the type of chocolate and how much it has ingested
Try to get as much information about chocolate and the amount consumed as possible when you contact your vet over the phone. The news you provide will help him find the most suitable treatment.
Chocolate bars are the most toxic for dogs, while milk bars are less dangerous; semi-sweet and dark chocolate has medium toxicity. The amount of theobromine that can be considered toxic for the dog varies from 9 to 18 mg per kg. On average, the bars contain 390 mg per 30 g of product, the semi-sweet one contains 150 mg per 30 g, while the milk one contains 44 mg per 30 g
Step 2. Call your vet immediately for guidance on how to proceed
He will advise you to take the following steps while you plan to take your furry friend to his or her clinic, or to follow certain procedures to treat your dog at home.
Small amounts of chocolate can only cause a little diarrhea and stomach pain. However, it is best to contact your doctor, regardless of how much they have ingested, as each animal reacts differently
Step 3. Take the dog to the doctor's office, if your veterinarian recommends it
He has the knowledge, staff, drugs and equipment to handle a chocolate overdose situation.
- He will likely give you medications to induce vomiting if the dog has been ingested within the last hour or so.
- In some cases, it will instead be necessary to hospitalize the animal in a veterinary clinic for the night; so taking him to the emergency services open 24 hours is definitely the best choice.
Step 4. See an emergency veterinarian if the one you trust is not reachable
Accidents don't always happen during surgery hours, so if you need advice during the night or on holidays, seek out another veterinarian who can give you the information and recommend suitable treatments for your dog.
In some cities there are also veterinary clinics that specialize in emergencies and are often open 24 hours a day, so they are an ideal place to bring an animal in distress
Method 2 of 2: Induce Vomiting
Step 1. Try to induce vomiting in your dog if advised by your vet
This should only be done if the chocolate has been ingested within the last hour and no neurological symptoms (tremors) have yet occurred. Remember that there can be life-threatening complications if you try to make your furry friend vomit in unsuitable conditions.
Have him ingest a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide (3% hydrogen peroxide). Mix it with water in a 1: 1 ratio. You risk spilling a lot if you try to spoon it, so make sure you always have a dosing syringe available in your pet's emergency kit
Step 2. Monitor your dog for about 15 minutes
Take it outdoors and observe it closely; even this alone should be enough to stimulate vomiting, plus it is also in a better place to expel food.
If you do not find the desired results with hydrogen peroxide within 15 minutes, give him another dose and wait
Step 3. Don't give him any more
If the dog has not yet vomited after thirty minutes, do not give him another dose, because excessive ingestion of hydrogen peroxide can harm him.
There can be side effects even with just one ingestion of hydrogen peroxide. These include mild or severe irritation and inflammation of the stomach and esophagus, possible aspiration (if the substance enters the lungs it could cause death), and blood blisters (potentially even fatal) can form
Step 4. Try giving him some activated charcoal as a last ditch effort
This substance can help prevent the absorption of the toxic elements of chocolate from the intestine. The recommended dose is 1 g of powdered charcoal mixed with 5 ml (one teaspoon) of water for each pound of the dog's body weight.
- This is to be considered as a last ditch effort to help the animal in the absence of professional medical care, and should only be done if recommended by the veterinarian.
- You shouldn't give him activated charcoal if he is vomiting, has tremors or seizures. If a little coal gets into the lungs, it could be fatal for the dog.
- It is very difficult to give him a large amount of charcoal without a gavage, and you will have to repeat the process every 4-6 hours for 2-3 days. Keep in mind that his stools will be white at this stage and he will likely suffer from constipation as well.
- In addition, a serious side effect of ingesting activated charcoal is the high level of sodium in the blood, which can cause tremors and epileptic symptoms. These signs are similar to the neurological problems associated with chocolate toxicity.
- You must be very careful when handling this product as it stains fabrics, carpets, paint and some plastics black often permanently.
- If your dog doesn't eat charcoal on his own, try mixing it with some canned food, although you may need to put it in his mouth with a syringe. Unfortunately, this greatly increases the degree of danger due to the fact that some coal could end up in the lungs, so it is not highly recommended.
- Avoid giving him charcoal with sorbitol repeatedly, as it can increase the chances of diarrhea, dehydration and create serious complications for the dog.
Advice
- You should think about investing in health insurance for your dog before you find yourself in an emergency situation. There are many companies that provide this pet service, so do some research and find an ideal health plan for your needs. Some insurance companies only cover emergencies, while others provide a more comprehensive policy for "business as usual" health problems. Either way, you could save a lot of money and give your faithful friend all the care they need when an emergency occurs.
- Organize and keep an emergency kit for animals up to date. Many basic tools include (but are not limited to) syringes for oral administration of drugs, other products or for irrigating wounds, gauze to clean wounds or control bleeding, an iodine solution to disinfect cuts, tweezers, scissors, a leash, muzzle, white surgical tape, cotton balls and hydrogen peroxide.
Warnings
- Do not let the dog eat chocolate again, even if he does not exhibit physical reactions. Different types of chocolate cause different reactions in dogs and are not worth the risk. Keep all chocolate sealed in a safe place out of the reach of your pets.
- Sometimes hydrogen peroxide can cause more harm than good to the animal. Make sure you never give him more than two doses. Better yet, only give it to him if recommended by your vet.
- You may not even be able to heal the dog on your own. Call your vet immediately as soon as you notice any warning signs.
- The fat in chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, even if they do not take sufficiently toxic amounts of theobromine. In addition, ingesting chocolate could lead to pancreatitis (activated by the fat content), which can resolve itself by putting the dog on a light diet (lean ricotta and white rice) for a couple of days, but it could also be quite severe. to request hospitalization.
