{"id":8430,"date":"2022-07-21T20:14:34","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T19:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/?p=8430"},"modified":"2024-01-13T19:02:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T19:02:45","slug":"can-dogs-have-chocolate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Dogs Have Chocolate? Top 7 Unique Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><\/p><\/nav>\n<p>Indulging in the sweet pleasure of chocolate is a delight for many, but when it comes to our four-legged companions, the stakes are higher than a mere guilty pleasure. &#8220;Can dogs have chocolate?&#8221; is a question that echoes through the minds of responsible pet owners, and in this exploration, we uncover not just the standard warnings, but delve into the top 7 unique side effects that make chocolate a potential canine foe.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suppose you are eating chocolate sitting on the couch, and your pup is expecting a small part of the chocolate as a treat. As a dog-parent, you might be wondering to know the answer for &#8220;<\/span><b>can dogs have chocolates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Then this article may be beneficial for you and your canine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you ask a dog owner what food they never feed their dogs, chocolate would be the answer. Chocolate is not suitable for your dog and has many reasons behind it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it&#8217;s not like that always, as people say! It depends upon the quantity of chocolates at a time and the dog\u2019s weight. There are examples where dogs are just cool after eating chocolate, and their owner didn&#8217;t notice anything weird in their pal&#8217;s behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then what should you do? What is the answer for \u2018<\/span><b>can dogs have chocolate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before getting straight to the answer, we will describe the rationale behind the chocolate eating habits of dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Components that are bad in chocolates are theobromine and caffeine. Because of these two components, chocolates become a terrible thing for your dog. You might be a big fan of chocolates, but a dog\u2019s digestion system is not suitable for it. The slowness with which animals absorb methylxanthines, particularly theobromine, is part of what makes them so deadly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These things slow down the process of digestion of your dog. It takes almost 17 hours to digest chocolate molecules properly. So, <\/span><b>can dogs have chocolate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? No!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The concentration of Theobromine and Caffeine vary from product to product. You may find some chocolates contain more caffeine than other brands. The more caffeine and theobromine present in chocolate, the more difficult it is to digest! Hence, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is for dogs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Side-effects-of-chocolate\"><\/span><b>Side effects of chocolate<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Side-effects-of-chocolate\" title=\"Side effects of chocolate\">Side effects of chocolate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#How-much-chocolate-can-kill-a-dog\" title=\"How much chocolate can kill a dog?\">How much chocolate can kill a dog?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Precautions-to-take-if-your-dog-eats-chocolate\" title=\"Precautions to take if your dog eats chocolate\">Precautions to take if your dog eats chocolate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Prevent-your-dog-from-eating-Chocolates\" title=\"Prevent your dog from eating Chocolates\">Prevent your dog from eating Chocolates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Keep-away-chocolates-from-your-dog\" title=\"Keep away chocolates from your dog\">Keep away chocolates from your dog<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#%E2%80%9CLeave-it%E2%80%9D-technique\" title=\"&#8220;Leave it&#8221; technique\">&#8220;Leave it&#8221; technique<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Can-dogs-have-chocolate-ice-cream\" title=\"Can dogs have chocolate ice cream?\u00a0\">Can dogs have chocolate ice cream?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#Can-dogs-have-chocolate-rich-in-cocoa\" title=\"Can dogs have chocolate rich in cocoa?\">Can dogs have chocolate rich in cocoa?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-chocolate\/#The-Bittersweet-Truth-%E2%80%93-Navigating-Canine-and-Cocoa\" title=\"The Bittersweet Truth \u2013 Navigating Canine and Cocoa\">The Bittersweet Truth \u2013 Navigating Canine and Cocoa<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><b>Can dogs have chocolate?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In short, no. But if your pup consumes some accidentally, you might notice some common problems that may occur after having chocolates; those are<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhoea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog may have a breathing problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abnormal heartbeat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urinating frequently.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin irritation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bellyache.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are the symptoms you may notice if your furry pal goes through difficulties. You may find several examples on the internet of dogs who died after having chocolates. Excessive amounts of methylxanthines are dangerous to your pal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is not only toxic but a life-threatening cause for older dogs, as older dogs often go through heart disease and breathing problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-much-chocolate-can-kill-a-dog\"><\/span><b>How much chocolate can kill a dog?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chocolates can be deadly for dogs. The seriousness of chocolate poisoning depends upon its darkness and quantity. Baked chocolate and dark chocolates are rich ih theobromine. If you are frantically googling \u2018<\/span><b>how much chocolate can kill a dog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?\u2019, you must know some facts. Per ounce, dark chocolate contains 56% of theobromine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ounce of milk chocolate contains 45% of caffeine. Caffeine is another toxin for your dog. It takes a lot of time to digest, hence causing problems like stomach ache and bloating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, consuming a little bit of chocolate is not fatal, but sugar and caffeine in it makes chocolate an unhealthy treat for your dog. Sometimes your dog may have pancreatitis after having a bite of chocolate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 50-pound dog can feel sick after having just 1 ounce of baker chocolate or fall ill after having 9 ounces of milk chocolate. This is an approximate idea to keep away serious issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Precautions-to-take-if-your-dog-eats-chocolate\"><\/span><b>Precautions to take if your dog eats chocolate<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first and foremost thing we would like you to do is call your veterinarian. And consult with him. According to his advice, take the precautions of the aftermath. It is always good to consult with your veterinarian in an emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the quantity of chocolate your dog has consumed, your vet may induce vomiting. Usually, they give activated charcoal in these cases to bring out excessive toxins from the body. Sometimes they provide IV fluid to reduce the risk of chocolate poisoning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find your veterinarian is not available, you can get help from the internet. There are many websites where you will have the option to consult with a Veterinarian online. Some websites are there to help you when you need to provide details of your dog&#8217;s age, weight, height and the chocolate that your dog has consumed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prevent-your-dog-from-eating-Chocolates\"><\/span><b>Prevent your dog from eating Chocolates<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Can dogs have chocolate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? It is always suggested not to feed your dog chocolate as a treat. Although giving a small bite of milk chocolate to a big dog will not cause anything wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, you are suggested to keep chocolate far away from your pal so that it will not eat chocolate on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several ways to keep your dogs away from chocolates. Read these ideas that will save your dog from the risk of having chocolates.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep-away-chocolates-from-your-dog\"><\/span><b>Keep away chocolates from your dog<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The simplest way to prevent any dangerous situation that may occur when your dog eats chocolates is to keep this creamy chocolate away from the reach of your dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep chocolates on a high shelf where your dog cannot reach, or you can keep chocolates in a closed-door kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On occasions like Christmas, Easter, New year, when you get so many chocolates as gifts, that time is very risky as you do not care about these presents. When you eat chocolates, you may throw chocolate wrappers into bins. Make sure you don&#8217;t keep those bins near your furry pal&#8217;s reach.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CLeave-it%E2%80%9D-technique\"><\/span><b>&#8220;Leave it&#8221; technique<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This technique is advantageous to train your dog not to have random things. You may wonder while walking on the road; your dog always tries to eat whatever comes in front. It happens with everybody.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Train your dog &#8220;Leave it&#8221; technique. It is effortless to teach. And your dog will have the memory. In this technique, you need to command &#8220;leave it&#8221; when you see your dog trying to eat something randomly on the road or even on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you train this technique in your dog, it will remember for the future, so in this way, your dog can avoid the dire consequences of having chocolate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can-dogs-have-chocolate-ice-cream\"><\/span><b>Can dogs have chocolate ice cream?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have this question in your mind, then the answer is, no. It is simple.\u00a0 Chocolate ice cream is made of chocolate even though they are not very high in caffeine and theobromine. So, chocolate ice cream is not all suitable for dogs. Ice creams also have added sugar and fat, which are unhealthy for dogs. Ice creams contain a large amount of cream and milk. As most of the dogs are generally lactose intolerant, ice creams as treats are not good for them. So, if you still have the question, <\/span><b>&#8216;can dogs have chocolate ice cream\u2019, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the simple answer is, no.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it takes so many procedures to prepare chocolate ice cream. The whole process makes it a complex food that is not easy to digest. Your furry pal may not be habituated with this kind of complex food.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can-dogs-have-chocolate-rich-in-cocoa\"><\/span><strong>Can dogs have chocolate rich in cocoa?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No! This is the absolute answer for those who have the above question. As we discussed already, chocolate is not a great treat for your dog. The more the cocoa content, the darker the chocolate is. Dark chocolate is more dangerous because it has more theobromine in it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humans can quickly metabolize theobromine but not dogs! It slows down their metabolism and leads to many diseases.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A small amount of chocolate is good, but too many doses may cause fatal issues to your dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always consult a veterinarian and feed your dog anything you want.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Bittersweet-Truth-%E2%80%93-Navigating-Canine-and-Cocoa\"><\/span><strong>The Bittersweet Truth \u2013 Navigating Canine and Cocoa<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In conclusion, the conundrum of dogs and chocolate unveils a multifaceted landscape. From gastrointestinal distress to neurological complications, our canine friends face unique risks when exposed to this delectable yet perilous treat. As responsible pet owners, it&#8217;s crucial to acknowledge these top 7 side effects and prioritize the well-being of our furry companions. &#8220;The Bittersweet Truth \u2013 Navigating Canine and Cocoa&#8221; sheds light on the delicate balance between indulgence and caution, emphasizing the importance of keeping chocolate out of paw&#8217;s reach.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/can-dogs-have-white-chocolate\/\">Will One White Chocolate Chip Hurt A Dog?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/best-dog-foods-for-allergies\/\">What Food Is Best For Dogs With Allergies?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indulging in the sweet pleasure of chocolate is a delight for many, but when it comes to our four-legged companions, the stakes are higher than a mere guilty pleasure. &#8220;Can dogs have chocolate?&#8221; is a question that echoes through the minds of responsible pet owners, and in this exploration, we uncover not just the standard [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8430"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12696,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8430\/revisions\/12696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8430"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mydoggie.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=8430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}