Have you ever wondered why dogs can't eat chocolate? It is a food that many of us love, and if we have dogs, it is likely that we have been tempted to give him a piece for him to enjoy too. But is it good, or can we put his life in danger?
We will know right now. Do not miss it.
Chocolate is made from cocoa, which contains caffeine and theobromine. Both are very dangerous for dogs, as lower blood pressure and also act as diuretics. This is not a problem for us - or at least not a serious one - but dogs metabolize theobromine more slowly, which can take up to 24 hours. On the contrary, the human being only takes a maximum of 40 minutes, since we have the cytochrome P450 enzyme in the liver.
As with all foods, a little bit is not going to put your life at risk, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. If it is given enough, or if due to an oversight a box of chocolates is left in an accessible place for the dog, then we would have to go immediately to the vet, since You could have symptoms such as high blood pressure, seizures, trouble breathing, and in extreme cases, heart failure.
The most dangerous is the industrial one that does not carry sugar, as it contains 390 milligrams of theobromine for every 30 grams of chocolate. Milk and white chocolate follow closely. Even so, you should know that an amount of 15 grams of chocolate for every half kilo of weight can be very dangerous for the dog; that is, if you weigh for example 4kg, an amount of 120 grams could be lethal.
In case you have eaten more, you should take him to the vet to induce vomiting, and give activated charcoal (normally, 5 grams is given for every 4.5kg of weight, but it is better to consult with the professional).
Have you ever given your dog chocolate?
Yes, I have 3 pitbulls of 4 and 3 human years with me, I give them everything of everything and until now I have no problem with their health, obviously I do not give them often and in very small amounts.