What to Do If Your Dog Ate Chocolate Cake?
Did Your Dog Eat Chocolate Cake?
Dogs will be dogs, and that means they'll eat just about anything they can get their paws on. If your dog has gobbled down a chocolate cake, it's important to take action right away. In this post, we'll explain what to do if your dog ate chocolate cake, so you can rest assured knowing that your furry friend is in safe hands.
Is it Bad for My Dogs to Eat Chocolate Cake?
A Piece of chocolate cake generally has a lower theobromine concentration than chocolate bars. Cakes contain many ingredients, which will dilute the overall chocolate concentration, resulting in a lower concentration of theobromine per bite. Theobromine content in chocolate cakes will be roughly the same as in milk chocolate, so the toxicity risks are the same.
Theobromine levels will increase greatly if dark chocolate garnishes are added. There may also be other toxins in the cake for dogs, such as raisins. It is best to consult a veterinarian if you are in doubt about the cacao content. You and your pup might have to deal with an unpleasant afternoon, but better to be safe than sorry. After all, chocolate's toxicity can become deadly quite quickly. You and your pup might have to deal with an unpleasant afternoon, but better to be safe than sorry.
As soon as a few hours after eating chocolate, a dog can develop chocolate toxicity symptoms. Affected individuals may experience vomiting, excessive thirst, excessive sweating, changes in behavior, or seizures.
What Causes Dogs to Be Allergic to Chocolate?
Chocolate does not cause allergies in dogs. Since dogs have different body chemistry than we do, chocolate can actually be poisonous to them. It is not a cause for alarm, however, if your dog nabs a cookie crumb from the floor. There are different levels of toxicity associated with chocolate for dogs, and your dog's weight also plays a role in how much chocolate he will be affected by.
Types of Chocolate
There are different levels of theobromine in different kinds of chocolate. Baking chocolate and cocoa powder contain the most theobromine per ounce at around 500 milligrams per ounce, while milk chocolate contains the least--about 50 milligrams per ounce.
Amounts of Chocolate
Approximately four ounces of milk chocolate causes seizures in a six-pound Yorkshire Terrier. A candy bar is the equivalent of about two and a half ounces of milk chocolate. Even a half ounce of cocoa powder or less than one ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal for a dog.
Golden Retrievers with 75 pounds of body weight can consume 34 ounces of milk chocolate or five ounces of baking chocolate before experiencing seizures or death.
In smaller doses, theobromine in eaten chocolate can make dogs sick and potentially damage their kidneys. All types of chocolate should be kept away from all types of dogs.
Theobromine
Theobromine is found in chocolate and is a stimulant. The effects of theobromine on humans are similar to those of caffeine, but a dog's body does not metabolize it as quickly. By prolonging and intensifying the stimulant's effects, the heart and nervous system are affected. Excessive consumption leads to cardiac arrest and seizures. Chocolate poisoning theobromine toxicity depends on the dog's size and body weight. Even a simple chocolate chip, small piece of a chocolate bar, or chocolate pudding can affect a dog. The dog's reaction depends on the actual chocolate used.
What Happens When My Dog Eats Chocolate
When a dog overdoses on theobromine, several symptoms can appear. The first sign of hyperactivity is excessive excitement or irritability. His heart may race and he may urinate excessively. Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors, and diarrhea may develop. Death may result from seizures.
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Chocolate?
The animal emergency hotline should be contacted if your dog has eaten dark chocolate, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, or a significant amount of milk chocolate. An ASPCA hotline provides advice about animal poisoning for a fee that is charged to your credit card. If your veterinarian clinic offers an emergency hotline, you may call it as well.
You may need to induce vomiting if your dog ate chocolate less than two hours ago. Vomiting is not beneficial after two hours when the metabolic process has gone too far. Your dog vomit is in need of professional medical attention at this point.
What to Do If Your Dog Ate Chocolate Cake?
Has your dog eaten any chocolate cake? The first thing to do is find out how much he ate. There is a chance that it might turn out okay if it was only a trace amount, but anything more should be taken to the vet. There is a chemical called theobromine in chocolate that makes it toxic to dogs.
We recommend against using home remedies like diluted hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting unless your veterinarian specifically allows it. When you call the vet, he or she will probably ask you questions such as the type of chocolate cake you have fed your dog and the amount he or she ate, your dog's weight, and how long ago the chocolate cake was consumed.
You may be asked to watch the dog carefully for the next few days if the vet deems the situation not serious. Only if he begins to show worrying symptoms should the dog be taken to the vet. To keep your dog from becoming stressed, you need to stay calm during this time. You could potentially try home remedies for dogs eating chocolate, but it's not recommended that you do so without consulting your veterinarian first.
The Aztecs revered chocolate as a gift from the gods. Many different kinds of this sweet treat accompany festivities, such as heart-shaped boxes, hot drinks, or cakes. With so many chocolate-infused celebrations, it's easy to overlook what your dog is up to, especially if you're busy preparing, keeping guests happy, and adding last-minute touches. So, your pet can easily get up on the counter and take advantage of the centerpiece dessert - a chocolate cake - by jumping up. In addition to the ruined homemade delicacy, your dog might get sick after eating the chocolate!
What Amount of Chocolate Cake Will Cause Toxicity in a Dog?
In terms of chocolate, there are many different types of cakes and sweets, all of which contain some level of theobromine. Most people are familiar with white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, as well as cocoa powder. In order to create these products, cacao is mixed with sugar and oil as well as other ingredients. Theobromine is a trace ingredient found only in very small amounts in white chocolate. In most cases, the worst your dog will experience is an upset stomach if they eat this type of chocolate.
Milk chocolate, semi sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate contain much more cacao and theobromine respectively. Commercial milk chocolate bars contain approximately 2 milligrams of theobromine per gram, whereas dark chocolate typically contains around 9 milligrams. Dogs are toxic to theobromine in doses as low as 7 mg per pound of body weight (16 mg/kg). It depends on the type of chocolate, the pet's weight, and the amount of chocolate consumed whether or not they get sick. A toxic dose will be reached after eating just under one and a half ounces (40 g) of dark chocolate by a dog that weighs 50 pounds (23 kg). Around half of that amount can be toxic for a 30-pound (13 kg) dog.
Baking powder, which contains a high amount of theobromine, is sometimes more potent than dark chocolate. Cocoa powder is one of the most poisonous types of chocolate available due to its high level of theobromine, which can range from 100 mg of theobromine per ounce, depending on the brand.
Do I Need to Do Anything if My Dog Eats Chocolate Cake?
Symptoms can appear within two hours of consuming a toxic dose of chocolate. As a result, behavioral changes are likely to occur, and can quickly progress to heart problems. Your veterinarian or pet poison control center should be contacted right away if your dog eats any of your cake. If your dog eats any of your cake, prevent them from accessing more and then call them right away. The veterinarian can decide whether your dog needs to be admitted for emergency treatment. Be sure to gather all the necessary information, including what type of chocolate was consumed, how much was consumed, and the body weight of your dog.
The safest course of action will be determined by your veterinarian. You might be asked to attend the clinic if your dog ate enough cake to be toxic. As your veterinarian examines your dog, he will look for signs of chocolate poisoning, such as a fast heartbeat. You may need to make your dog sick if the chocolate cake was eaten recently enough for theobromine to be absorbed. You should never give your dog medicine at home unless you have been instructed by a vet to do so - it can be very dangerous, especially if you are not experienced. It also helps to check a chocolate toxicity calculator especially if your dog is showing symptoms of chocolate poisoning.
Activated charcoal may also be given to neutralize any theobromine still lingering in your dog's stomach or gut, or he may be admitted to a hospital overnight for close monitoring to ensure his stability before he can be returned home.
We've all been there. One minute, your pup is trotting around the yard and the next he's gobbled down a chocolate cake that was left out on the countertop. It can be tough to know what to do when emergencies like this happen but you don't need to worry anymore! We're here with some simple steps for how to help your dog feel better after eating something toxic, plus we have other blog posts about pet care. If you find yourself in another "what should I do" situation, take a look at our blog.
Original post here: What to Do If Your Dog Ate Chocolate Cake?
Comments
Post a Comment