Dogs can have as much or more sweet tooth than us. Never underestimate a dog's appetite for a good piece of chocolate or cake, because he will, and with great pleasure. But the question is, Can we give sugar and chocolate to the dogs?
The answer is simple: no, we must not give sugar and chocolate to dogs, since it is harmful and in the case of chocolate, toxic. In this article we explain why, and how to proceed if your dog has eaten a chocolate bar secretly, or something with a high sugar content.
How does chocolate affect dogs?
Chocolate contains a small molecule called theobromine, very similar to caffeine, which in high amounts, can cause the death of the animal by intoxication. Theobromine is not an artificial product, it is one of the substances generated by the cacao tree during photosynthesis, necessary for its metabolism.
That for our furry it is toxic, however, does not mean that it is also for us. Our bodies don't work the same way. Humans are capable of metabolizing theobromine in a shorter period of time than can, whose body is not capable of destroying this molecule fast enough. In the most serious cases, this molecule can remain in the dog's body for up to 72 hours, hence it is considered toxic.
Smaller dogs are less tolerant of theobromine than larger ones. To give you an idea, if a dog of approximately 12 kilos ingests 300 grams of dark or low purity chocolate, it will experience an increase in heartbeat due to intoxication. However, 250 grams of high purity chocolate may be enough to cause the death of the animal, as stated by the Basque Foundation for Agrifood Health (FSVA). In this table you can see the amounts of chocolate that are considered lethal according to the type:
|
LETHAL QUANTITIES OF CHOCOLATE BY TYPE |
|||
|
Live weight (Kg.) |
Choc. With milk (Gr.) | Choc. Bitter (Gr.) |
Theobromine (Mg.) |
|
2 |
113 | 14 | 200 |
|
4 |
225 |
28 |
400 |
|
9 |
450 |
70 |
900 |
| 14 | 900 | 92 |
1300 |
| 30 | 2270 |
241 |
4300 |
|
etc. |
etc. |
etc. |
etc. |
When a dog has ingested chocolate, the first signs of poisoning that usually manifest are vomiting and diarrhea. In the event that the poisoning becomes even more serious, the heartbeat will accelerate greatly, the dog will become nervous, and tremors or seizures may appear. In the worst case, the dog could fall into a coma or die.
If you observe that your dog has ingested any type of chocolate, whatever the amount, it is better to be prudent and go directly to the emergency room to be examined by a veterinarian, who, if deemed appropriate, will cause him to vomit or perform a wash gastric.
How does sugar affect dogs?
Something different happens with sugar, but no less worrying for that. Sugar, unlike chocolate, is not toxic to dogs, and as long as it is very sporadic and in very small doses, nothing will happen. The problem comes when we abuse and give them a lot of sugar.
Sugar makes them very fat, it is not very difficult for a dog to quickly become obese by ingesting large amounts, with the negative effects that obesity can lead to, such as lack of energy or diabetes.
On the other hand, it's fatal for your teeth, the same as for ours, but the difference is that they do not brush them every day. As a result, cavities are likely to develop, thereby weakening their teeth, to the point of requiring veterinary intervention.
Giving sugar to dogs is not recommended under any circumstances, because although it is not toxic like chocolate, it will only have negative effects on their health, and money in vets that you could have saved, simply, not giving him that piece of cake that your dog asked you with the cutest little face in the world. Do not forget that sugar is also bad for usHowever, your body is much more sensitive than ours, hence smaller amounts are enough to cause serious effects on the pancreas.
How many times have you heard that sugar makes dogs blind? However, this is not entirely true in completely healthy dogs. However, if your dog is diabetic and you give him sugar, in the long run, your vision will be affected.
It may interest you: How to know if my dog has diabetes
Dogs that suffer from diabetes and take sugar are at higher risks. Your eyes will turn whitish due to cataracts, they will lose vision considerably, to the point, in the worst case, of going blind. Therefore, the combination of diabetes and sugar in dogs is more than dire. Better to do everything possible so that our furry animals are as healthy as possible throughout their lives, right?