BY CHARLOTTE M. DICKINSON, MPA
Body
Let’s start with the most obvious and most justified on what pet owner’s give their pets- chocolate.
Chocolate is a poison to your dog or cat.
Whether it is a small or a large amount, chocolate is considered a toxin. It is your responsibility as a pet parent to not give or leave Halloween candy on the floor, table, or any height where it can get in your pet’s mouth.
Since chocolate is toxic, the veterinary professional has now discussed the need of making your pet vomit based on the stage of toxicity.
Oh what fun!
Of all the emergencies that I have been involved in, Halloween is the most fowl-smelling, gut-retching, gag-reflex, up to your senses messy holiday.
It is not just a day but weeks of liquid chocolate pieces and wrappers while dodging a projectile vomit from a dog’s mouth onto shoes, clothes – and sometimes face.
Working in ER before and after the candy-filled holiday in not what I ever considered fun.
Chocolate contains two substances that are toxic to dogs: theobromine and caffeine. The more chocolate there is in a product, the more theobromine.
This makes baking chocolate the worst, followed by dark, milk, and chocolate flavored cakes and cookies.
You only have a 1-2 hour time from after ingestion to start taking action, 4-6 hours when symptoms are seen.
Chocolate toxicity has three stages: mild, moderate, or severe.
There is an excellent online tool (www.merckvetmanual.com) where you may put the weight of your dog, how many ounces ingested, what type of chocolate, etc. – and it will tell you if immediate action is required.
The symptoms of chocolate toxicity range from vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, hypersensitivity, hyperactivity – and in severe cases affect the central nervous, respiratory, and cardiac system.
Anytime a pet owner has any questions, you can call the Pet Poison Helpline (800) 213-6680 or the ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 to assist you.
In the next issues: mild chocolate toxicity and what you can do at home.
