Who Said Chocolate Can Be Safe For Dogs?

And dark chocolate, at that!

Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently was quoted in an FDA Consumer Update on foods which might be dangerous to dogs. Of course that list contained all the usual suspects – grapes, raisins, onions, macadamia nuts, products containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, and of course, raw meat (because FDA cannot wrap its organizational mind around the fact that kibble and canned foods have killed thousands of dogs over the years while raw has allegedly killed two).

In the article Dr. Stamper stated, “A big lab that eats a bar of dark chocolate may not have any problems, whereas a Chihuahua could get dangerously ill.” I confess, my first thought was why in the world would any veterinarian say anything hinting that chocolate was not a problem. At the very least, this statement is vague and misleading. How dark is the chocolate in question — 60%? 72%? Darker? How big is a big Lab? And at worst, this statement may lead an owner to delay seeking care, increasing the risk of serious reactions.

Chocolate’s toxicity does vary greatly with the type of chocolate. Chocolates contain caffeine and theobromine. White chocolate contains the least, followed by milk chocolate, while dark and baker’s chocolate contain the most. Today, many higher end chocolates are very dark, and contain potentially lethal levels of theobromine and caffeine.

Signs of chocolate toxicity often include vomiting and diarrhea, panting, and restlessness. More serious signs include rapid heart rates, skyrocketing body temperatures, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle tremors, seizures, and death.

If your dog ingests chocolate, consult your veterinarian immediately. Have the approximate amount of chocolate ingested, the type (milk, dark with percentage of cacao, baker’s, etc), and the time since ingestion. You can use this handy tool to give information to your vet about what was ingested. Treatment may include inducing vomiting, supportive care, and specific medications to address symptoms. Immediate treatment can be lifesaving. With the upcoming Easter weekend, chocolate will be everywhere, so be sure to take all the appropriate precautions.