Chocolate Toxicity
As we all gear up for a big Easter down here at Torquay Animal House Vets and on the Surfcoast, and maybe start to prepare for an Easter Egg hunt or two, it’s time for a quick reminder of the dangers of chocolate to our pets!
Chocolate is not just a tasty treat to us, but dogs seem to be able to sniff it out a mile away and will often be found to have ingested chocolate that is left out unsecured. If a child can get to it, a curious dog most certainly can!
The most toxic risk with chocolate is the methylxanthines it contains, theobromine and caffeine. All of these compounds are dangerous and present in varying amounts depending on the type of chocolate.
Unsweetened (baking) chocolate contains the highest levels, followed by dark chocolate, milk chocolate and then chocolate- flavoured cookies, cakes etc. The toxic dose can be calculated based on the amount of chocolate consumed, the type of chocolate and the weight of the dog.
Signs of chocolate toxicity in the dog are as follows:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Hyperactivity
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Racing heart or heart rhythm abnormalities
- Death
The other adverse effects of chocolate are caused by the fat content – this can trigger a nasty episode of pancreatitis. This is a painful condition that usually requires a hospital stay to treat and can be life threatening.
The best way to avoid issues is obviously to keep the chocolate out of reach. We strongly recommend planning your Easter Egg hunt for an area where no pets can access!
If you do suspect your dog has had access to chocolate, then it is best to seek veterinary advice immediately , as early intervention is vital to prevent further complications. It can take up to 4 days for the toxic compounds to be fully eliminated from your dogs system.
If your dog does suffer from clinical signs, even if you haven’t directly seen them ingest any chocolate, then hospitalisation for heart monitoring, sedatives and muscle relaxants may be necessary. Be more wary of pets with underlying health conditions as well.
Raisin, grape and saltana toxicity
A well as chocolate, the other main food of choice over the Easter period is Hot Cross Buns, which also unfortunately pose a significant risk to our pets health!
Grapes are toxic whether dried, fresh or cooked and the toxic dose to pets is unknown and highly variable. It is also not known what component of these fruits makes them toxic. Grape and raisin poisoning is also hard to determine based on quantity ingested because some dogs can eat a large amount and be unharmed, whereas others eat tiny amounts and die. There are reports of dogs eating a kilogram of raisins and being unaffected, or a handful of sultanas and dying.
Some clinical signs of grape, saltana or raisin toxicity include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Poor appetite
- Lethargy
- Abdominal pain
- Inability to urinate
- Blood in vomit or stools
- Neurological signs such as dullness and ataxia (wobbly legs)
- Death
These symptoms can begin soon after ingestion to first signs not being seen for up to 24 hours post eating the fruits.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes, raisins etc, you should seek veterinary treatment immediately to induce vomiting. Given the uncertainty of toxic dose amounts, even if it is one single grape or raisin, it is still recommended to have it vomited up.
If there is a delay between ingestion and when you realize something may have been eaten, it is still highly recommended to seek veterinary treatment for a blood test to check for potential kidney damage.
Torquay Animal House Vets are not open over the long weekend of Easter, so your best port of call is Geelong Animal Emergency Clinic (03) 5222 2139