Chocolate Toxicity Link to: (www.VetMedCenter.com)
Understanding Your Pet's Medical Diagnosis
What is chocolate toxicosis?
Chocolate toxicosis (poisoning) is caused by excessive intake of the methylxanthine alkaloids in chocolate, coffee, tea, and some over-the-counter stimulants. The poisoning affects many organ systems, and animals of all ages are susceptible. Poisoning is common in dogs because of their habit of rapid consumption. Since chocolate is often available and tasty, access to chocolate goodies is a problem.
What causes chocolate toxicosis?
Methylxanthine alkaloids are naturally occurring drugs (primarily theobromine and caffeine) in chocolate, coffee, tea, and some over-the-counter medications. These drugs cause constricted blood vessels, rapid and weak heartbeat, and stimulate the nervous system. At emergency clinics the most serious acute cases of "Chocolate poisoning" are probably cause by ingestion of stimulant tablets containing caffeine.
In most cases, dogs are poisoned by eating the processed chocolate used in candies and baking, since these contain high concentrations of theobromine and caffeine and dogs find them tasty. Chocolate preparations contain different concentrations of active compound. The biggest threat is from baker's chocolate squares, followed by semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and hot chocolate. The toxic dose 100-150 milligrams per kilogram. For example for a 20 pound dog:
What are the signs of chocolate toxicosis?
Vomiting and diarrhea occur 2 to 4 hours after intake, and chocolate in the vomit may be obvious. Nervous system stimulation leads to hyperactivity, tremors, and seizures. The heart rate becomes increasingly rapid and irregular. Excessive urination may result from the diuretic (water clearing) action of the chocolate. Advanced signs include stiffness, excitement, seizures, and extreme response to noise, light, and touch. Heart failure, weakness, coma, and death can occur 12 to 36 hours after intake.
How is chocolate toxicosis diagnosed?
Chocolate toxicosis can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisoning such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs similar. If a combination of chocolate ingestion, vomiting, nervousness, or weakness is seen, take your dog immediately to your veterinarian. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He may want to test the blood and urine concentration of sugar (glucose) and of the active ingredient in the chocolate. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
How is chocolate toxicosis treated?
If your dog is having a seizure, do not attempt to cause vomiting; call to bring him to your veterinarian without delay. A home remedy for inducing vomiting if the chocolate has just been consumed is to give syrup of ipecac or hydrogen peroxide (call your veterinarian for instructions). This may induce vomiting within 10 to 15 minutes, after which take your dog to the veterinary hospital right away. Your veterinarian may use other drugs or a stomach tube and fluids to clear the stomach of chocolate, followed by activated charcoal treatment to prevent any drug remaining from being absorbed. In dogs with advanced signs, specialized medications are needed to control the seizures and to correct the rapid and weak heartbeat in order to prevent heart failure.
The Animal Poison Control Center offers a 24 hour veterinary poison hotline for a fee. The numbers are 888-4264-4357 or 900-680-0000 ($45 per case?).
What is the prognosis for animals with chocolate toxicosis?
The expected course of chocolate toxicosis is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of decontamination and treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction.