Can chocolate really kill dogs?

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1:02Can chocolate really kill dogs? Thanks for asking. If you have been terrified of finding your dog munching on an Easter egg or chocolate treat during the holidays, it's the kind of thing that can turn a wonderful occasion into a potential disaster. Of course chocolate is a delightful treat for us humans, but it can be extremely harmful to your furry friend and even fatal in extreme cases. Why is chocolate dangerous to dogs then? They don't process the components of cocoa like we do, especially the obra mine and to a lesser extent caffeine. Those two substances stimulate your pet's central nervous system and heart muscles. The immediate effects include relaxed respiratory tract muscles and increased urine production. To put it simpler, a dose of chocolate can cause digestive, nervous and cardiac issues of varying degrees of severity.

2:05When should I be concerned? The average toxic dose of the obra mine is about 20mg per kilogram of body weight. However this varies depending on your dog's size, smaller breeds and older dogs are more sensitive. Let's take a dog that weighs 45lbs for example. It could be poisoned by just 40g of dark chocolate and 100g could even be fatal. Remember the level of danger is tied to the the obra mine content, so not all types of chocolate are equally harmful. Dark chocolate is more dangerous due to its higher cocoa content while white chocolate poses almost no risk. Vets now have actually made a chocolate toxicity calculator available on their website, which can help you assess the specific risk to your dog if they've consumed chocolate. It can be found at dogtrockletcalculator.vetsnow.com It's chocolate only dangerous for dogs.

3:10Actually no, dogs are most commonly affected, but chocolate is also toxic to cats, rodents and birds. The issue is pretty much the same. Their bodies metabolize the obra mine much more slowly than ours, potentially leading them to ingest toxic amounts. What are the symptoms and what should I do if my pet is poisoned? The symptoms vary depending on the amount of chocolate consumed and your pet's sensitivity. Early signs include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, excessive thirst and urination. More severe symptoms can include muscle tremors, heart problems and seizures. If you suspect your dog has eaten a dangerous amount of chocolate, don't just sit around waiting for severe symptoms to appear. You can contact your regular vet or look up an emergency vet on a listing site like vetsnow.com for immediate help. Experts say that you shouldn't be overly alarmed by digestive symptoms, but neurological,

4:12cardiac and respiratory complications can cause your pet to die within hours. Whatever happens, don't try to induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by your vet, as that could do more harm than good. The best attitude to take really is that prevention is better than cure, so always be cautious and keep chocolates out of reach of your pet as far as possible. There you have it! Now you know whether chocolate can really kill dogs. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.