Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Hospital Tour
    • Services
    • Testimonials
    • Employment - Veterinary Technician
    • Employment - CSR
  • Client Care Center
    • Prescription Refills
    • Request Appointment
    • New Client Registration
    • Senior Wellness Program >
      • Senior Wellness Package
      • Senior Pet Questionnaire
    • View Your Pet's Records
    • Forms & Information
    • Blog
    • Feature Your Pet!
    • Refer A Friend
  • Online Pharmacy
  • Contact
    • Our Sister Hospitals
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Hospital Tour
    • Services
    • Testimonials
    • Employment - Veterinary Technician
    • Employment - CSR
  • Client Care Center
    • Prescription Refills
    • Request Appointment
    • New Client Registration
    • Senior Wellness Program >
      • Senior Wellness Package
      • Senior Pet Questionnaire
    • View Your Pet's Records
    • Forms & Information
    • Blog
    • Feature Your Pet!
    • Refer A Friend
  • Online Pharmacy
  • Contact
    • Our Sister Hospitals

Pet Health Blog

Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

4/6/2017

Comments

 
Picture
With Easter just around the corner, we thought it'd be a good time to remind pet owners with kids to keep the Easter baskets and candy stash up and away from your pets!

Curious noses are attracted to these sweet treats, and most pet owners know that chocolate is bad for dogs, but do you know why?

Chocolate contains Theobromine, a compound that humans can easily metabolize. Dogs' bodies do not process Theobromine well, causing it to build up in their bodies and produce serious side effects.

Severe cases of chocolate toxicity can lead to muscle tremors, seizures, heart arrhythmia, or even death.

​​



The severity of chocolate toxicity depends on several factors:
  • Type of chocolate
  • Weight of your dog
  • Amount of chocolate ingested​
Picture
As a general rule, the "darker" the chocolate, the higher the Theobromine content, so baking chocolate and dark chocolate can cause toxic side effects with a much smaller amount than milk chocolate.

Only 2 squares of baking chocolate or 6 ounces of semi-sweet chips can cause severe toxicity in a 20-pound dog.
If you suspect your dog has ingested chocolate, here's what we'll want to know:
  • An estimate of how much chocolate - and what type - your dog ate. (Check the packaging, if you have it.)
  • How long ago your dog ate the chocolate.
  • [If you're calling the ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline or an emergency hospital, they'll need to know your pet's weight. If your dog is a patient at Allegheny North, we will have his or her most recent weight in our records.]
Call us right away. Do not wait to look for side effects!
After hours, contact a 24-hour emergency veterinarian or call the ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline.

If a toxic dose of chocolate was ingested, early treatment is critical. At the hospital, we are able to safely induce vomiting and administer fluid therapy, if needed. The type of treatment needed will depend on your dog's specific situation.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
  • Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital: 412-364-5511
​
  • P.V.S.E.C. (Camp Horne Rd): 412-366-3400
​
  • University Veterinary Specialists (McMurray): 724-717-2273
 
  • ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline ($59 Fee): 855-764-7661
Picture



While one milk chocolate Hershey's Kiss might not cause harm to your Labrador, it's best not to share candy with your canine companions. Right now, your dog doesn't know what he's missing; avoid giving him any type of chocolate so that he doesn't develop a taste for it.

​We all know how hard chocolate is to resist once you know just how good it is...!
Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    January 2020
    August 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All
    Cats
    Chocolate
    Dental Health
    Disaster
    Dogs
    Emergency
    Fleas
    Holidays
    Lyme Disease
    Medications
    Microchip
    Pain Management
    Poison
    Preparedness
    Public Health
    Rabies
    Resources
    Ticks
    Toxins
    Vaccines

    RSS Feed

HOURS BY APPOINTMENT
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00AM - 7:00PM
FRIDAY 9:00AM - 5:00PM
SATURDAY & SUNDAY CLOSED
Request Appointment
Picture
Picture
Picture
954 Perry Hwy
​Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Call: 412-364-5511
Text: 412-218-3067
Mobile App: Pet Health Network
(available on iOS & Android)

© Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital 2023
Picture
Picture