When sitting around with my friends at a sleepover our favorite thing to do was eat all the chocolate things we could find. From chocolate chip cookies, brownies, or just plain Hersey bars, we ate all of it! Although we loved to munch on everything, every mom would yell at us “make sure the chocolate doesn’t fall on the floor, we don’t want the dog to eat it!” I always thought to myself though, does chocolate really kill dogs? Or is it just a myth? What makes us able to eat it but not dogs?
As I found out, chocolate can be deathly to dogs, but there are many factors that go into it. Inside the cocoa bean is chemical called theobromine. This chemical is plant alkaloid, which means it contains the elements oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. In 1841 theobromine was found in the cocoa bean. Theobromie is an energizing chemical for humans but can also cause humans to experience nausea and anorexia. Although it has some effects on humans, nothing compares to what it does to dogs. The chemical can cause a decrease in a dog’s blood pressure by widening its blood vessels. It also takes a very long time for dogs to digest chocolate, compared to humans.
Although chocolate has a negative effect on dogs, every dog breed is different for the amount of theobromine that affects it. For example a Yorkshire terrier compared to a Golden Retriever has to consume different amounts for chocolate to affect it. In that way it’s similar to humans and alcohol; usually people who weigh less get sicker but alcohol quicker. 300 milligrams per kilogram of body weight is equal to the amount of chocolate a dog can consume without getting severely ill.
All chocolate affects dogs differently though. For example, dark chocolate has a more negative effect on dogs than does milk chocolate. Dark chocolate causes dogs to have a higher risk of seizures. It also contains methylxanthines, which is a chemical that is deathly to all types of dogs. It also contains more theobromine, which is heavy on kidneys and leads to vomiting and shock. Humans also know when to stop eating because we get full, while dogs don’t know when to stop. A dog can eat ten percent of its body weight in just a matter of minutes without stopping. This leads to over eating and severe sickness. Though white chocolate is still very bad for humans, it’s not as bad as milk or dark chocolate. This is because it doesn’t contain theobromine, but instead is prepared with cocoa butter. Even a dog consumes a high amount of white chocolate they can still get very ill due to the high fat and sugar content which causes the pancreas to shut down.
Since dogs are a mans best friend, I don’t think anyone wants to ever hurt them. So next time you’re eating chocolate and dropping it on the floor and assume it wont hurt the dog, be careful because its effect dogs more than you think.
Sources
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-dangerous-is-chocolate-for-dogs.html
http://scienceillustrated.com.au/blog/ask-us/could-eating-chocolate-really-kill-your-dog/
http://blogs.plos.org/speakeasyscience/2012/02/14/the-curious-toxic-chemistry-of-chocolate/
I love dogs so much and this is so interesting that you wrote about this because I have had a experience that relates perfectly to this. My dog as a puppy loved everything that it could find to eat and one time we left a whole bowl of hershey kisses on the table and when we came home the entire bowl was gone. My dog being 100 lbs looked so sad as he rolled around in pain. We called the vet and he said that we had to have our little puppy throw up immediately. From this incident forward we never allowed our precious pup to even be close to chocolate.
This post caught my attention because I am a huge dog lover and have always wondered the real explanation as to why dogs aren’t allowed to eat chocolate. My mom was the same way, always warning my siblings and I to make sure we never left chocolate or candy laying around (especially during Halloween). I remember one time, my miniature schnauzer somehow ate two chocolate pop tarts and my whole entire family was worried to death! It turned out that he survived the traumatic situation, with just minor side effects (such as throwing up).
After doing a little research, I found an interesting alternative to giving dogs chocolate. Its called Carob, and comes from the seed pods of an ancient tree, the carob tree, which grows in Mediterranean regions of Greece, Spain, Catalonia, and Sicily. Carob seeds, also known as locust beans, are typically processed into chips, powder, or syrup form. It can be used in baked goods such as cakes and cookies as a chocolate substitute for those who are sensitive to caffeine. Unlike chocolate, carob doesn’t contain theobromine, the chemical harmful to dogs, so it’s a great solution when you want to give your dog a sweet treat.
Not only is chocolate harmful to dogs, but it is also dangerous for cats. After years of experience with my cat and dog, I found that animals will eat almost anything you place near there mouths. But, is it okay for them to eat just about anything? Chocolate ingredients includes caffeine and theobromine, which is toxic to cats and dogs. According to the ASPCA, these toxicants are called methylxanthines, which could damage the heart and nerve system of cats too. Depending on the amount of chocolate a cat eats, purposely or accidentally, the damages can range in each animal. In conclusion, none of your household animals should be consuming chocolate because it is damaging to all. To keep my pet’s away from accidentally consuming chocolate, eating away from your pets is recommended (to avoid fallen chocolate bars.) Source: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-cats
I miss my dogs so much right now, being away at college. This blog instantly grabbed my attention as I care about my dogs a lot and have also heard foods such as chocolate and grapes were harmful for dogs to eat. In fact, here is a link in which describes how harmful grapes can be to dogs that consume them: http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/digestive/e_dg_grape_raisin_toxicity . I did not realize that different breeds would be affected more strongly or that dark chocolate would be worse for dogs (as it is supposed to be better or, at least, healthier for humans). It is frightening to know dog’s pancreases and blood vessels can be altered due to chocolate. Chocolate, unfortunately, has an addictive taste to it but really is not very good for humans or dogs to consume. I will try to eat less of it in order to watch my weight and in order to make sure less of it is exposed to my dogs.
For as long as I can remember I have been told that chocolate is bad for dogs, and that it would make them extremely sick if they ever ate it. But I never knew exactly why…until now. This post was very enlightening! I had absolutely no idea that inside the cocoa bean is a chemical called theobromine, and that this is actually what makes chocolate so unhealthy for dogs. I wonder if there are any other products that this chemical is found in, that could be causing dogs to become sick, because like you mentioned dogs will just keep eating and eating- and some will just eat anything that can reach. Another thing I found interesting about your post was that dark chocolate is actually more threatening to dogs’ health thank milk chocolate, but healthier for humans. Do humans have a particular enzyme or body make up that helps them to digest chocolate better than dogs? Clearly, but what specifically is it?
I think we can all agree that dog are men’s bestfriend, and caring and protecting them is part of it. I have always been taught that if I gave chocolate to my dog it would die. As a child, I couldn’t understand why but now I understand the scientific part thanks to your blog. Also, it is important to add that dogs, as well as humans, can become addicted to chocolate. This means that the more they are exposed to eating this delicious treat the more they will want to it.
http://www.petparents.com/show.aspx/dogs/dog-lifestyle/can-chocolate-really-kill-your-dog