Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Please see my answer to this other question I just finished typing for an answer to your question.

Please don't question or wonder WHY chocloate kills dogs, just know that it does ok?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?…

EDIT: To those throwing TDs my way, why don't you at least read my answer in the other question? My answer deals with chocolate poison and rat poison and other poisons too.l It was faster for me to copy link than copy all the answer, plus, you may find the question itself a bit sobering and thought-provoking about the questioner having a poisoned and dying litter of pups.

Answer 2

Chocolate and cocoa contain theobromine, a chemical highly toxic to dogs and cats. Ingestion in can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias. A small chocolate chip may not be so bad depending on dogs size, also different dogs have different tolerences, but to be safe just dont give it to them. Also, dark or baker's chocolate is the worst.

Source(s):

-www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
-I am a vet tech student

Answer 3

Unfortunately for dogs chocolate tastes really, really good, but chocolate is not really poisonous, not like cyanide.  That doesn’t change the fact that it can kill your dog.   It is theobromine that is harmful to dogs, if you can find chocolate without it you’ll have the happiest dog in town.  Theobromine is a stimulant found in the coca plant.  People often get theobromine confused with caffeine, while they have similar effects, eating a piece of chocolate will not give a human the rush a cup of coffee does.  Chocolate will still give a sugar rush, but don’t eat it if you’re up late studying for an exam.

Answer 4

The reason is because Chocolate contains a substance known as Theobromine. Dogs can not metabolize it as fast as we can, so they end up getting sick and risking death if they consume enough. Theobromine will affect the heart, central nervous system, and kidneys. Early signs include vomiting or diarrhea, which is normal for any animal to do after eating something that they shouldn't, and it is necessary to rid the body of the toxins.

The next signs would include restlessness, increased urination, and muscle tremors, which would be a sign to induce vomiting if the dog hasn't or isn't already vomiting, but contact Poison Control or your vet to get guidance on how to induce vomiting without possibly making your dog even more ill. More advanced signs of the Theobromine poisoning the animal, would be Cardiac Arrhythmia's and Seizures. However, if your dog gets to being restless or urinating more often, I would take him in to the vet, since the last thing that would happen, if enough chocolate was consumed, would be the dog dying.

However, everything depends upon how much your dog weighs, how much chocolate he ate, and most importantly, what kind of chocolate it was. While White Chocolate has the very least amount of Theobromine, Baker's chocolate contains the highest amount. Basically, the darker the chocolate, the less your dog needs to eat to be poisoned. That is why it is safe to keep ALL poisonous foods completely out of reach at all times.

Chemistry Behind Theobromine - http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstruc…
Other Toxic Human Foods - http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?…
Interactive "Chocolate Chart" - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/1…

Answer 5

There are chemicals in it that are toxic to dogs, cats too actually, but cats are not as likely to eat it.

Depending on the amount eaten and type of chocolate, it can be fatal.

http://therealowner.com/health/is-chocol…

Answer 6

Chocolate has theobromine in it and what that does it affects the plasma of the blood. The plasma is what carries the oxygen in the blood. The purer the chocolate the higher the theobromine content,

Source(s):

Work in vet hospital

Answer 7

toxins. dark chocolate is ok every once ina while, the sugarless chocolate used for cooking only.