“It is, by far, the number one people food that we have issues with,” she told The Daily Paw, attributing this mostly to the fact that chocolate is found in most homes.
Typically, the darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is to dogs, with baking chocolate as the most lethal. And depending on how much and what type of chocolate was ingested, symptoms can range from vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, to abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures. In a worst-case scenario, the sweet seducer could even lead to death.
What to do in an emergency: If your pet ingests chocolate, or any other poison, first contact your veterinarian. Depending on how much chocolate the dog could have eaten, a vet may suggest that you give your dog a little amount of hydrogen peroxide in order to induce vomiting. Don’t rely on the internet since information posted on the web may not always be credible.
For emergencies, contact the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), where experts are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at (888) 426-4435. Although the call is toll-free, pet owners should be advised that a $60 consultation fee will be charged to their credit card. This includes follow-up consultation should you or your vet need further assistance with your pet’s case. Be ready to provide your pet’s species, breed, age, sex, weight, symptoms, information regarding the exposure, including the agent, amount ingested, and time elapsed since the ingestion. It is also helpful to have the product in a container for reference as well as anything collected in a sealable plastic bag of what your pet may have vomited or chewed.
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