Pharm Tech Titans

Methylxanthines, the class of chemicals containing caffeine and theobromine, are found in varying amounts in different types of chocolate. The two most common chemicals in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine. However, even if your dog is able to eat milk chocolate with no symptoms at all, it’s still highly advisable not to let them do so, as milk chocolate contains many harmful chemicals beyond lactose. Lots of things can play a role in whether your dog will have a toxic reaction including the amount of chocolate your dog ate, your dog’s size, and whether your dog happens to be extra-sensitive to theobromine. In humans, who metabolize the alkaloid quickly, theobromine has been shown to have some beneficial effects including mood elevation, myocardial stimulation, cough surpression, and vasodilation (widening of blood vessels from relaxation of the muscular wall of the vessels). Most social animals, such as bees, apes, and even ants communicate with each other, but only humans have developed different languages. This breaks down much of the carbohydrates into simpler sugar molecules that can be absorbed by the body (this is why humans can digest milk.) Dogs don’t have such an enzyme and thus can’t break down lactose as humans do.

Dogs have genes that prevent them from digesting lactose, which is part of what scientists call their “lactase persistence.” Lactase, an enzyme in the saliva and gastrointestinal tract, breaks down lactose after it’s been digested by other components in the body. Fat slows the passage of lactose through your digestive system, giving your body more time to work on digesting it. Most dogs are lactose intolerant so, giving your dog milk and milk products is out of the question. Dark and cooking chocolate and cocoa have the highest levels, whereas milk and white chocolate have the lowest. What Do I Do if My Dog Eats Chocolate? If your 10 pound dog eats a one ounce chocolate bar, however, it can cause chocolate toxicity. If your dog eats chocolate or shows signs of chocolate poisoning, call your veterinarian immediately. What Is Chocolate Toxicosis? But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, which is particularly true with chocolate. Besides the potentially messy results of giving your dog dairy products, there is one other important thing to consider before sharing human foods with a pet.

In “Cars 2,” Mater mistakes wasabi for pistachio ice cream, giving him a vastly different culinary experience than he originally expected. In other words, a small dog is going to experience more symptoms than a large dog when the same size and purity of chocolate is consumed. For example, if your 60 pound pup sneaks a crumb of chocolate cake off your plate, you don’t need to panic. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet in real time and get the personalized advice you need for your pet – all at an affordable price! If you’re worried about your dog getting sick from eating certain foods and don’t want to see your pet’s health deteriorate, then we suggest you leave the food alone and take them to a veterinarian for examination who can then give you advice on what treats are safe and which aren’t. Here are more ways to know if your pet has food poisoning. They will also act extremely thirsty despite having food and water available to them. This causes theobromine to act as a stimulant when ingested by dogs. Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that can act as both a central nervous system stimulant and an analgesic (painkiller).

This can lead to problems like an upset stomach or diarrhea, but the major danger is that it could affect their heart or nervous system. Dogs that are lactose intolerant can develop symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, excessive gas, and stomach cramping. Some breeds of dogs are more tolerant to lactose than others. Theobromine inhibits the activation of adenosine receptors, which are responsible for making us feel sleepy. Baking chocolate, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate contain between 130 and 450 mg of theobromine per ounce. Your veterinarian may request that you watch your dog carefully before bringing them to the clinic if you aren’t sure whether your dog has ingested a dangerous amount of chocolate. If your dog is exhibiting any symptoms of chocolate poisoning, call your veterinarian. Your dog may vomit the chocolate, and this will save him from the harmful effects of the chocolate. To save your dog from milk chocolate poisoning, avoid any temptation to share. The symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs will vary depending on the dog’s weight and how much chocolate was eaten. They might have eaten an unwrapped chocolate and left no wrapper behind as evidence.