With Halloween right around the corner, you may already be picking up chocolate candy for trick-or-treaters – or stockpiling a few candies for yourself! Amidst the Halloween holiday excitement, however, be sure to keep a close eye on your dogs. Chowing down on a few chocolate treats can send your dog straight to the emergency room at an animal hospital.
Austin Veterinarian: Chocolate Makes Dogs Seriously Ill
Our veterinary clinic in Austin has treated dogs for accidental chocolate ingestion. Many pet owners realize that chocolate and dogs don’t mix, but few realize just how dangerous a few 
pieces of chocolate really are for a dog. Sorry Austin dogs, but chocolate is no sweet treat. In fact, it can be downright deadly!
Chocolate ingestion causes arrhythmia and muscle twitching. Chocolate contains the chemical theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant in cocoa beans. Theobromine affects the cardiovascular system and central nervous system, increasing a dog’s heart rate. Chocolate is not toxic to humans because our bodies can effectively break down theobromine. Dogs, however, are unable to do so. Theobromine causes a dog to pant rapidly, his muscles to twitch and to frequently urinate.
Baking chocolate is more dangerous than white chocolate. Baking chocolate contains 450mg of theobromine per ounce, a serving size that can be fatal to many dogs. In contrast, white chocolate contains only 1mg of theobromine. While ingesting chocolate is never good, a dog that licks baking chocolate off the floor will be far sicker (and may even die) than a dog that only nibbles on a white chocolate bar.
All chocolate ingestion is dangerous. Dogs love a taste of chocolate, and once they get started nibbling on candy, they are unlikely to stop. This means your dog could easily plow through an entire bag of candy. Any and all chocolate ingestion should be treated as a veterinary health emergency.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea and hyperactivity. If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate, immediately contact our Austin veterinary clinic. A veterinarian can evaluate your dog’s symptoms and provide life-saving care.
Has your dog ever become sick from eating chocolate?