Dark chocolate

What is dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate is a type of chocolate that contains a high proportion of cocoa mass and little or no sugar. It is often referred to as dark chocolate or bittersweet chocolate and has an intense flavor. Dark chocolate is considered healthier than other types of chocolate as it contains many antioxidants and flavonoids, which are good for the cardiovascular system.

Why is dark chocolate bad for dogs?

Dark chocolate also contains two substances that are toxic to dogs: Theobromine and caffeine. Theobromine is an alkaloid found in the cocoa plant and has a similar effect to caffeine. It stimulates the nervous system and the cardiovascular system and can cause excitement, restlessness, tremors, convulsions, palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia and even death in dogs. Caffeine has a similar effect to theobromine, but is contained in chocolate in smaller quantities.

The toxicity of dark chocolate depends on several factors:

• The amount of dark chocolate the dog has eaten.
• The size and weight of the dog
• The dog's sensitivity to theobromine and caffeine
• Quality and cocoa content of the dark chocolate

The more dark chocolate the dog has eaten, the smaller and lighter it is, the more sensitive it is to the substances and the higher the cocoa content of the chocolate, the greater the risk of poisoning.

What should you do if your dog has eaten dark chocolate?

If you suspect or observe that your dog has eaten dark chocolate, you should act immediately. Symptoms of poisoning can occur between 30 minutes and 12 hours after consumption. You can take the following measures:

• Call your veterinarian or take your dog to a veterinary clinic. Explain exactly how much dark chocolate your dog has eaten, when it happened and how he is feeling. Your vet will be able to tell you whether or not treatment is necessary.
• Try to make your dog vomit if he has recently eaten the chocolate and is not yet showing symptoms. This can prevent more theobromine and caffeine from entering his bloodstream. To do this, you can give him hydrogen peroxide (3%) orally at a dose of 1 ml per kg of body weight. Repeat this at most once after 15 minutes if he does not vomit. Note: vomiting can also be harmful if the dog is already showing symptoms or has eaten other objects. Therefore, always ask your vet for advice.
• Give your dog activated charcoal if he has eaten the chocolate for a long time or if he is already showing symptoms. Activated charcoal binds theobromine and caffeine in the gastrointestinal tract and prevents them from entering the bloodstream. You can give him activated charcoal tablets or activated charcoal powder at a dose of 1 g per kg of body weight.