Why You Should Never Make Your Dog Eat Chocolate
Of all the foods that exist in the world, chocolate is a favorite of many, not only for its delicious and unparalleled flavor, but also for the benefits it can bring to our health, so important that many doctors recommend it. daily consumption. Still, giving your dog some chocolate is not a good idea. In fact, although dogs feel the same pleasure we do in eating it, chocolate is actually one of those foods that should never be eaten. So much so that, unlike what happens to humans, it is so harmful to their health that it even puts them in danger of life.
Starting from this assumption , with today’s article we have decided to explain to you the reason why you should never give chocolate to your four-legged friend.
Giving your dog chocolate is like giving him poison
What is the reason for this cryptic and lapidary title? Apparently, although it is a delicious treat for your dog, giving him chocolate is equivalent to making him consume any type of poison, since cocoa contains a molecule called theobromine – a substance very similar to caffeine – which intoxicates and carries to the dog a lot of damage, proving fatal in some cases.
The reason why this food is so harmful to our dogs but not to us is simply that we are dealing with completely different organisms; humans can metabolize theobromine easily and in a short time, while in dogs this does not happen, since the breakdown and elimination of this molecule is extremely difficult for their organism.
In fact, according to a survey carried out on the intoxication of dogs caused by chocolate, it was determined that theobromine, before being expelled, remains in the organism of dogs between 17 and 18 hours, up to even three days. in extreme cases, leading the animal to death.
What are the symptoms of intoxication?
If your dog is a victim of poisoning, there are a number of symptoms to look out for in order to understand what your little friend needs. These are the most common:
- Diarrhea
- He retched
- Urinary incontinence
- Polyuria
- Weakness
When intoxication is much more severe, the symptoms are much stronger:
- Chronic seizures
- Arrhythmia
- Tachycardia
- Neuropathy
- Tremors
The best way to help your dog after he has ingested some chocolate is to make him vomit, if the consumption took place within two hours, otherwise take him to the vet.
“Likewise, it is important to note that some specialists recommend giving the dog benzodiazepines or even barbiturates if he is suffering from seizures.”
What is the amount of cocoa that the dog can consume?
First of all it must be taken into account that, since there are different types of dog breeds, not all organisms are the same, so it is not easy to define the precise quantity of chocolate that the dog can consume, as well as the quantity that can be harmful for his health.
Nonetheless, a determining factor is certainly the size of the dog. It is evident, in fact, that small dogs are much more vulnerable than large breeds, being much more difficult for them to bear theobromine, with a consequent very high risk of intoxication.
Speaking of which, let’s try to give you a small proportion between the amount of chocolate allowed and the size of the dog:
- As is evident , for a puppy weighing less than a kilo it will be impossible to digest any amount of cocoa, even if minimal, and it is therefore advisable to make sure that he never eats it.
- Conversely, dogs weighing 10 to 12 pounds will feel their heart racing as they consume 300 grams of low-purity dark chocolate.
- If the purity of the chocolate is high, 250 grams may be enough for the animal to die.
As far as you can see, even if dogs seem to look a lot like us, there are actually important differences to which you must always pay close attention.
In conclusion, if you are a good owner and love your pet, don’t let him eat chocolate.
