Dog Ate Chocolate

[rackyrane]

Hey All,
My 8 year old son put a half pan (13 x 9") of chocolate brownies on the dining room table and our 7 year old greedy German Shepherd ate all of them.
What should I do? I have read that chocolate is poison to dogs. Any ideas?

 

[Saltysteele]

i don't know about the chocolate thing. i've had many dogs that ate chocolate. brownies have little chocolate in them, relative to the flour, sugar and other ingredients.

how long has it been, and is he acting okay? i'd probably be apt to follow him around so i didn't have chocolate stains on my carpet :)

 

[Hypertek99]

Chocolate is too rich for dogs. They will just get real sick.

 

[Mallard]

Dogs will get severe diarrhea if they eat chocolate. So be prepared for an upset stomach and some unpleasant odors. If it gets really severe is when it would be cause for concern. Otherwise, just make sure he or she has plenty of fluids and maybe do so further research using google.

 

[rackyrane]

Thanks for the replies. So far, he is acting normally. He's outside now and barking up a storm. He has plenty of water, so if he gets diarrhea, he should be ok. If he starts looking bad, I will take him to the vet.

So you guys have had or known of dogs that ate chocolate? My poor little guy is in tears now.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

semi sweet chocolate is the real concern.

4 oz of semi sweet chocolate can be fatal to a newfoundland. Dont know if it has the same effect on other breads.

semi sweet, for example is chocolate chips, and some baking chocolate.

Most milk chocolates actual coco content is very low, and should be harmless.

diarrhea and vomiting should be the extend of the dogs troubles.

 

[rarelyseriousb]

My poor little guy is in tears now.

cause the brownies are gone.

 

[JuniorMC8704]

ive had my 20lb pug eat a whole back of bite size snickers before, i dont think you should be too worried. Just keep an eye on him.

Also, place your hands under its belly, and lift up a little, as long as the dog arches over your hands bloat isnt an issue. It you try and lift, and his stomach is rock hard like a board, take him in.

Bloat can be caused by severe over eating, and basically causes the stomach to tie in a knot. My fat pug has been to the ER a couple times...

being a larger dog, this should not be an issue, but better to check, and be sure.

 

[bellareef]

Chocolate contains theobromine (a methyxanthine, like caffiene) that is toxic to dogs. However, brownies may contain low enough theobromine, so you may be ok. 100-200 mg/Kg theobromine is said to be toxic, where 20 mg/Kg would start to show effects. A 50 lb dog would have to ingest more than 9 oz of milk chocolate to get 20 mg/Kg dose, but bakers or pure chocolate would be much more dangerous. I've had a 35 lb dog eat a whole pan of fudge, and he was fine.

Signs of chocolate poisoning (within several hours) are excitement, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, excessive urination, muscle spasms, seizures, even coma.

Hope that helps.

 

[mnherper]

i have seen hunters give there labs hole king size snickers to give them energy when ducking hunting.so i think your dog should be fine.good luck

 

[Saltysteele]

Signs of chocolate poisoning (within several hours) are excitement, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, excessive urination, muscle spasms, seizures, even coma.

wondered why i felt like that.......

:tongue:

yes, i've had dogs that we gave chocolate before, including a m. schnauzer, rott's, newfie/australian shepherd mix. not a lot, but i don't think there is a whole lot of chocolate (relatively speaking) in brownies.

hope he's okay, and hopefully your boy is, too :)

 

[slipondajimmy]

My lab/chow mix also got into a pan of brownies once. Other than a serious case of the "Hersey Squirts" she was ok.

 

[BluegrassReef]

my mom had a spaniel mix that was raised on Mt. dew and reese's cups...lol And he lived to the ripe old age of 14....you should be fine.

And my pit bull loves m&m's.

 

[rackyrane]

Thanks for all the replies and support everyone. I'm happy to say that my dog is fine today and doesn't seem to have any side effects. And yes, he did have the squirts. He's running around trying to see what else he can get into.
My son is ecstatic that the mutt's ok too.

 

[bellareef]

Glad to hear that! :)