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Good for humans, not for pets

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide

Please see the archive1 for more Q & A topics.

Animals often have a "sweet tooth" too

Just like their human counterparts, pets, especially dogs, can crave the delicious goodness
of chocolate. While recent studies have shown that chocolate may be beneficial for our
health2, it is important to know that chocolate can be toxic, and sometimes even fatal, for
animals.
Chunks of chocolate
© Getty Images / Mark Weiss
Dogs are most commonly affected, due to their ability to find it and the common 'sweet
tooth' they seem to have. It is important to remember that cats and other species3 are
susceptible to the toxic effects of chocolate, too.

What makes chocolate toxic, anyway?

Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic
compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.) Both
Theobromine and Caffeine are members of a drug class called Methylxanines4.

Theobromine and caffeine effects on the body:

Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant

Cardiovascular stimulant
Increase blood pressure (mild)
Nausea and vomiting

Are some chocolates more toxic than others?

Yes. Unsweetened (baker's) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi-sweet
chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such
small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely. Caffeine is present in chocolate, but less than Theobromine.

Quick Guide for Theobromine levels in different types of chocolate:

From The Merck Veterinary Manual, here are approximate Theobromine levels of different types of chocolate:

Dry cocoa powder = 800 mg/oz

Unsweetened (Baker's) chocolate = 450 mg/oz
Cocoa bean mulch5 = 255 mg/oz
semisweet chocolate and sweet dark chocolate is = 150-160 mg/oz
Milk chocolate = 44-64 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
White chocolate contains an insignificant source of methylxanthines.

Source: Merck Veterinary Manual Online6

How much is too much?

The toxic dose of Theobromine (and caffeine) for pets is 100-200mg/kg. (1 kiliogram = 2.2 pounds). However, various
reports7 by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) have noted problems at doses
much lower than this - i.e. 20mg/kg.

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Translated to a "typical" scenario, and using the 20mg/kg as a measure of "problems can be seen at this level of
ingestion", a 50 pound dog would have to consume 9 ounces (+/-) of milk chocolate to consume the 20mg/kg amount
of Theobromine. Some dogs won't see problems at this rate. Some may.

This is a much more conservative toxic level calculation than the "standard" of 100-200mg/kg, but better safe than
sorry. A dog sneaking a couple M&M's shouldn't have a problem, but it isn't a good habit to get into!

What are the signs of toxicity?

Signs are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion.

Excitement / nervousness / trembling

Vomiting / diarrhea
Excessive thirst / sometimes excessive urination (at higher levels of Theobromine toxicity)
Muscle spasms
Seizures
Coma (rare
Death (rare) -- likely due to heart rhythm abnormalities.

How is chocolate toxicity treated?

If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate (more than the stray chocolate chip that fell on the floor), call your
veterinarian for advice. The toxicity of Theobromine is dose dependent8 . This means that the size of your pet, the type
of chocolate, and quantity of chocolate determine if or how toxic it is for your pet.

There is no specific antidote for Theobromine toxicity. Medical treatmentis supportive, and may include all or some of
the following:

IV fluids - to prevent dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, and /or increased urination, and to "flush" the
Theobromine out of the system.
Emetics - medications that induce vomiting. Used when the ingestion of chocolate is within 4 hours. Up to 6-8 hours
post chocolate ingestion may be effective.
Activated charcoal - for ingestion greater than 4 hours prior to treatment, or for patients that show continued
signs of toxicity.
Anti-seizure medications - for patients having seizures and/or muscle tremors.
Cardiac medications - for patients exhibiting irregular heart rates or rhythms.

Why isn't chocolate toxic to humans?

Humans can break down and excrete Theobromine much more efficiently than dogs. The half life of Theobromine in the
dog is long; approximately 17.5 hours.

Keep your pet's best interests at heart...chocolate wasn't meant to be shared anyway (grin).

Veterinary Q & A is part of a continuing series. See the archive9 for more Q & A topics.

Text: Copyright © Janet Tobiassen Crosby. All rights reserved.

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Links in this article:

1. http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/blvetquesarchives.htm
2. http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongnutrition/p/chocolate.htm
3. http://www.rmca.org/Articles/ratchoc.htm
4. http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?methylxanthines

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5. http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jun06/060601b.asp
6. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/211104.htm
7. http://www2.aspca.org/site/DocServer/toxbrief_0201.pdf?docID=111
8. http://www.frii.com/%7Ephouka/dogs/dog_choc.html
9. http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/blvetquesarchives.htm

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