How to Treat Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

Many dog owners panic when their dogs eat chocolate. All chocolate can be toxic to dogs with bakers chocolate being the most lethal. The amount that can be toxic will vary based on your dog’s weight and type of chocolate ingested. A few hours after consumption a dog may become hyperactive, experience tremors and urinate more frequently.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Call the vet immediately. If you have any suspicion that your dog has ingested chocolate, call your vet immediately. If it’s after hours, don’t wait until the morning. Take your canine to the emergency vet immediately.

2. Your vet may recommend inducing your dog to vomit. If you’ve caught your dog right after he’s eaten the chocolate, the vet may induce vomiting. Hopefully this will get the chocolate out of your dog’s system to prevent further complications.

3. A coal treatment may be administered. Some vets administer a coal treatment to soap up the toxins. Ask your vet if this treatment would be appropriate due to your dog’s situation.

4. Intravenous fluid therapy may be administered. If your dog is vomiting, this will help keep him healthy and hydrated. Although it may be expensive, it’s an important part of the overall treatment.

5. A sedative may be administered. If your dog is hyperactive from the chocolate, your vet may elect to administer a sedative. This will keep your dog calm.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your vet about inducing your dog to vomit with hydrogen peroxide. Because time is so critical with chocolate toxicity, your vet may want to try this before coming to the vet.

• Take immediate action even if your dog seems normal. Chocolate isn’t something you want to take a chance with. There is no doubt the vet bill will be out of budget, but this is not something you want to wait out.