If treated early, decontamination including inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to prevent absorption of theobromine into the body may be all that is necessary. Treatments of activated charcoal may be repeated to reduce the continued resorption and recirculation of theobromine.
How is chocolate poisoning in dogs treated? Treatment for chocolate poisoning in dogs may include induced vomiting, activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, heart medications, anti-convulsants, and antacids, depending on the clinical signs.
Your dog must be carefully monitored until her symptoms subside, which may take up to seventy-two hours. The ASPCA Poison Control estimates twenty-five percent of dogs with chocolate poisoning recover within two days, however even with treatment, one in one hundred dogs with chocolate poisoning never recover.
Chocolate and dogs treatment
There is no antidote to theobromine. In most cases, your vet will make your dog vomit. They may wash out the stomach and feed activated charcoal which will absorb any theobromine left in the intestine. Other treatments will depend on the signs your dog is showing.
If your pet consumed the chocolate less than two hours ago, your veterinarian may induce vomiting and give them several doses of activated charcoal, which works to move the toxins out of the body without being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Call the pet poison hotline (855-213-6680) if your veterinarian isn't available. They will be able to give you further instructions regarding what to do. If you have a small breed dog who ate a large amount of baker's chocolate or cocoa powder, seek medical attention immediately.
How long does it take a dog to recover after eating chocolate? It can take up to three days for a dog to recover from chocolate poisoning.
If your dog ate chocolate within an hour, get him to vomit. Use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Mix it 1:1 with water.
Vetted Pet Care suggests taking only three percent solution of Hydrogen Peroxide (not the concentrated six percent solution) and putting 1ml for every pound of body weight (so 16 ml for 16 pounds), into food or in a dropper to feed her to induce vomiting.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning will usually show within six to 12 hours, but could appear within one hour. If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, act immediately and don't wait for the signs to appear. We always recommend seeking veterinary advice if you have any concerns about the health of your pets.
Cost of Chocolate Toxicity Treatment in Dogs
The cost of treating mild cases of chocolate toxicity ranges from $250 to $500. More severe cases may cost as much as $3,000 to treat.
Dark Chocolate: Use a scale of 1.5 ounces per 10 pounds of body weight. That's 3 ounces for a 20 pound dog. If they've ingested that much or more, it's time to call your vet. Milk Chocolate or Semi-sweet: A poisonous amount would be anything over 3.5 ounces- a standard size Hershey's bar- for a small 10 pound dog.
Most symptoms will begin to appear within two hours of ingestion, but, as theobromine is metabolised slowly, it can take as long as 24 hours for them to appear and up to three days for recovery.
How Long Does Chocolate Poisoning Last? Theobromine has a long half-life, and it can stay in your dog's system for days. It can take 72 hours for the first symptoms of chocolate poisoning to begin to ease. This is why early treatment is so important, for chocolate and frankly any type of poisoning.
While this depends on the type of chocolate, it can take only 0.3 ounces of concentrated chocolate per pound of body weight to kill a dog. Milder types of chocolates vary from 0.5 to 2 ounces. This is because chocolates contain theobromine, which is a lethal chemical for dogs.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 2-12 hours and can last for days. In severe cases toxicity can cause: Fast breathing or panting. Shaking, trembling and tremors.
If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, or they have any of these symptoms, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian or emergency vet right away: Vomiting. Diarrhea. Increased body temperature.
Signs & Symptoms
The most common clinical signs of chocolate poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, and racing heart rate.
25% of poisoned pets recover within two hours. Of the pets that take longer to recover, many can be treated at home with the advice of your veterinarian or with advice from the ASPCA Poison Control Center (telephone 1-888-426-4435).
Once in the hospital, your veterinarian may give your dog intravenous fluid, flush your dog's stomach, give your dog activated charcoal to absorb the toxin, or perform surgery. Supportive medications may help your dog's kidneys and liver process the poison and heal.
No. Milk is unlikely to be helpful in the vast majority of poisoning situations and can sometimes make things worse. Most pets are lactose intolerant and giving milk can cause or worsen stomach upset symptoms.
Some toxins cause reactions right away, while others cause symptoms several hours or days later. For instance, the first symptoms of antifreeze poisoning can appear in as little as 30 minutes, whereas the symptoms of chocolate poisoning take between 6 and 12 hours to show up.
What are the long-term effects of chocolate poisoning? Long-term effects are unlikely to occur and most dogs make a full recovery after becoming unwell from eating chocolate.
What Can You Do for Food Poisoning in Dogs? As a rule, try fasting your dog for 24 hours when they start vomiting—offer water, but no food. If they continue to vomit during that period of time, they need to have a veterinary exam.
How much chocolate can a dog eat safely? Annandale Animal Hospital in NSW says the toxic dose of theobromine for dogs is around 100mg per kg of body weight. This equates to 20gms/kg of semi-sweet dark chocolate or 60gms/kg of milk chocolate.