By Dr. John Huebner

MOST OF US JUST COME OUT AND ADMIT IT: We’re chocoholics. Others justify their habit on more scientific grounds, citing studies showing links between chocolate ingestion and improved health and well-being.

Regardless of the justification, few deny themselves at least an occasional indulgence.

Most pet owners have at least heard of the potential danger chocolate presents to dogs. The concerns are certainly justified, but like so many things in medicine it’s not quite as simple as it sounds.

It turns out that in some situations, chocolate can be a very dangerous, even lethal toxin for dogs, while in other situations we probably have little to worry about.

Chocolate is actually a double whammy in the way it can make your dog sick. First, there’s all that fat. Most people are aware of the high fat content of chocolate candies and treats — one could argue that chocolate indulgence is largely responsible for those extra pounds that mysteriously appear on the bathroom scale each holiday season.

As in people, weight gain from high-fat foods and treats is a problem for dogs, but other, more immediate problems can develop from the extra fat. These can range from a mild “stomach ache” to life-threatening pancreatitis (a sometimes severe inflammation of the delicate pancreas organ).

While the fat in chocolate can be a real canine health concern, it’s a chemical called theobromine that makes chocolate so famously “toxic” to dogs. Theobromine is a caffeine-like chemical that is metabolized rather slowly by the canine system. This means that all that theobromine from a chocolate binge remains in the canine system much longer than it would in a person. If enough chocolate is ingested, serious problems can develop.

Interestingly, some years ago a report from the National Animal Poison Control Center cited no cases of theobromine toxicity in cats. This, the agency suggested, was likely because of different eating habits in felines. They did report theobromine-related deaths in horses from eating cocoa bean hulls used for stall bedding, and in livestock when cocoa waste products were used in their feed.

We frequently field phone calls from worried dog owners about chocolate toxicity. Three factors determine if a dog is likely to get sick from chocolate ingestion: the type of chocolate eaten (milk, dark, baking, etc.); the amount of chocolate eaten; and the body weight of the dog.

Different types of chocolate vary dramatically in how much theobromine they contain. Unsweetened baking chocolate, for instance, contains much more theobromine than milk chocolate. Here’s a real life example: A 20-pound dog would need to eat 4 ounces of milk chocolate to get a problematic amount of theobromine. On the other hand, that same 20-pound dog eating just 1 ounce of baking chocolate would worry us.

If a dog ingests a ”toxic” amount of chocolate, signs will usually develop within a few hours. Vomiting and diarrhea will initially alert the pet owner that something is wrong, but these symptoms may progress rapidly to hyperactivity, nervousness, muscle twitching, unstable gait, seizures, coma and even, in severe cases, death.

If you find that your dog has eaten any amount of chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately with information on the type of chocolate eaten, an estimate of how much was eaten, and how big your dog is. This will help your veterinarian determine if any immediate action is needed.

Treatment of chocolate toxicity requires aggressive veterinary intervention. We focus on reducing any further absorption of chocolate from the gut, while enhancing theobromine excretion by administering IV fluids. Sometimes medications are needed to control cardiovascular problems and seizures while the dog’s system slowly detoxifies the theobromine.

Whatever your excuse to occasionally indulge in the rich delights of chocolate, do yourself, and your dog, a big favor … don’t share any with Fido.

Dr. John Huebner is a 1985 graduate of the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC-Davis and a longtime Benicia resident. He practices companion animal medicine at Redwood Veterinary Hospital in Vallejo. Send comments or pet health questions to him at 731 Admiral Callaghan Lane Vallejo, Ca 94591, or by email at RdWdVet@yahoo.com.

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