After reading this article, pet parents should have a correct understanding of dietary taboos for their dogs. The article is 1500 words long and takes about 2 minutes to read. Due to differences in the digestive system between dogs and humans, many human foods are not suitable for dogs, such as chocolate and grapes. What other fruits should dogs avoid besides grapes? Here is a comprehensive list of fruits that dogs should not eat. Feeding pets without a clear understanding of dietary taboos and patiently understanding what foods are not suitable for dogs can lead to serious and dangerous consequences if they consume something they should not. It can even be fatal! Now, let me take 2 minutes to tell you the following points: Why can’t dogs eat chocolate? How to determine the toxicity level of chocolate? What common foods should dogs avoid? How to carefully select a dog’s diet? Table of Contents: Why dogs can’t eat chocolate! Why is theobromine so scary? How much chocolate does it take for a dog to have theobromine poisoning? How to calculate it? How to calculate the theobromine poisoning concentration value for dogs? What should you do if your dog accidentally eats chocolate? What symptoms will there be? Common dietary taboos for dogs, how to choose a dog’s diet? Conclusion: Can dogs eat chocolate? Dietary planning arrangements for dogs. The reason dogs can’t eat chocolate! Why is theobromine so scary? The reason dogs can’t eat chocolate is definitely not because chocolate is too sweet! It’s because chocolate contains a substance called theobromine. Like caffeine, it is a stimulant that can increase heart rate and the amount of oxygen transported to the brain for humans. Chocolate, readily available to humans, is poison to dogs. Let me tell you how toxic chocolate is! Humans often use caffeine as a tool to stay awake, but they metabolize theobromine more efficiently, taking an average of 6-12 hours to metabolize theobromine. However, dogs have a poor metabolism of theobromine, taking an average of 72 hours to metabolize it. This is also why dogs can’t eat chocolate; consuming a large amount can harm their central nervous system, heart, and kidneys, which requires special attention! How much chocolate does it take for a dog to have theobromine poisoning? How to calculate it? There are many types of chocolate, and the theobromine concentration in each type is different! Dogs are not completely unable to eat chocolate, but consuming more than a certain amount can lead to theobromine poisoning. Now, let me help you organize how to calculate the theobromine poisoning amount. The theobromine poisoning concentration varies for each pet, calculated using the dog’s weight and theobromine + caffeine content. Theobromine content (mg) per gram of chocolate type Caffeine content (mg) per gram White chocolate 0.009 mg 0.03 mg Milk chocolate 35% 2 mg 0.21 mg Dark chocolate 70% 5 mg 0.7 mg Dark chocolate 100% 13.6 mg 1.65 mg Cocoa beans 21 mg None Pure cocoa powder 26 mg 2.46 mg How to calculate the theobromine poisoning concentration value for dogs? Chocolate intake (grams) * {theobromine + caffeine content (mg)} / Dog weight (kg) = Poisoning concentration value If the value is less than 20, it is mild, and symptoms of muscle twitching begin at 60. If it exceeds 100, it is highly dangerous and requires immediate medical attention! If you are confused by the numbers, let me use an example to illustrate! For example: My Chihuahua weighs 2 kg and ate 30 grams of milk chocolate. The chocolate poisoning value is 30g * (2+0.21mg) / 2kg = 82.65, which is already a dangerous value and requires medical attention for induced vomiting! And my adult Labrador weighs 30 kg and also ate 30 grams of milk chocolate. The chocolate poisoning value is 30g * (2+0.21mg) / 30kg = 2.21, which is a very mild value and not a big problem! The amount of chocolate that can poison a Chihuahua may not necessarily poison an adult Labrador.
Data Source: Chocolate intoxication, Sharon Gwaltney-Brant (DVM, PhD), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). What should you do if your dog accidentally eats chocolate? What symptoms may occur? If a dog accidentally consumes chocolate with a high content of theobromine, which is toxic, the following reactions may occur, ranging from mild to severe: restlessness, excitement, tremors, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, seizures, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. High-concentration chocolate poisoning is extremely dangerous; if ingested accidentally, induce vomiting with saline solution and rush the dog to the nearest veterinary hospital for professional treatment immediately! Pay special attention to keeping pure dark chocolate out of reach from your dog! There are also many other common foods that dogs should not eat in everyday life, which the author has compiled for pet parents to understand! Garlic, leeks, onions, and green onions contain sulfoxides, which can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to symptoms such as hematuria and vomiting and diarrhea. Only a few small pieces are enough to disrupt the normal functioning of red blood cells, and even when pureed, these foods are not safe for dogs to consume! Grapes and raisins are somewhat controversial foods; it is generally not recommended for dogs to try them. Grapes contain phosphorus and lithium ions, which can be harmful to dogs’ liver and kidneys, and lithium can also affect nerve conduction functions. The problem is that even when grapes are dried into raisins, they remain harmful to dogs, so pet parents who enjoy grapes and raisins must be particularly careful and avoid sharing them with their pets! Fruit pits and nut kernels contain cyanide. Seeds and fruit kernels in fruits must be removed before feeding to dogs to avoid indigestion, and some fruit seeds contain substances that can poison dogs, so extra caution is needed! As for nuts, walnuts and macadamia nuts should be avoided for dogs. Feeding dogs leftover bones is a practice that older generations often engage in, but it is highly discouraged. If the bones are not cooked thoroughly enough, when bitten and shattered, they can scratch the esophagus and stomach. If someone recalls that their dog often eats bones without any issues, the author must warn that feeding bones is very risky. There might be no immediate problems because dogs cannot actively communicate their pain; they might be unaware of esophageal scratches and cough frequently at home, possibly due to ingesting sharp hard objects. Dogs cannot actively express their pain; minor oral or tongue injuries are one thing, but if bones pierce the stomach and get stuck in internal organs, it is very troublesome and dangerous! Dairy products and caffeinated beverages should also be avoided. Besides dog milk powder sold in pet stores, milk commonly consumed by humans should be avoided as most dogs are lactose intolerant, especially puppies, with those aged one to three months being particularly susceptible to dehydration and diarrhea from drinking milk. Dogs should also avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and black tea, as they can potentially cause arrhythmias. High-fat and high-salt diets should be avoided. Dogs frequently consuming high-fat foods are very prone to illness, such as pancreatitis.
After reading this article, pet parents should have a correct understanding of dietary taboos for dogs. The article is 1500 words long and takes about 2 minutes to read. Due to the differences in digestive systems between dogs and humans, many human foods are not suitable for dogs, such as chocolate and grapes. Besides grapes, what other fruits should dogs avoid? A comprehensive list of fruits dogs should not eat is presented here. Feeding pets without carefully understanding dietary taboos and patiently comprehending what dogs should not eat can lead to serious and dangerous consequences! In severe cases, it could be fatal! Now, let the editor tell you in 2 minutes: Why can’t dogs eat chocolate? How to judge the toxicity level of chocolate? What common foods should dogs avoid? How to choose a dog’s diet strictly? OPEN article table of contents: The reason why dogs can’t eat chocolate! Why is theobromine so scary? How much chocolate does a dog need to consume to suffer from theobromine poisoning? How to calculate it? How to calculate the theobromine poisoning concentration value for dogs? What should you do if a dog accidentally eats chocolate? What symptoms will it have? Common dietary taboos for dogs, how to choose a dog’s diet? Summary: Can dogs eat chocolate? Dietary planning for dogs. The reason why dogs can’t eat chocolate! Why is theobromine so scary? The reason dogs can’t eat chocolate is not because chocolate is too sweet! It’s because chocolate contains a substance called theobromine. It is a stimulant like caffeine, which can increase heart rate and oxygen delivered to the brain for humans. Chocolate, readily available to humans, is poison to dogs. Let the editor tell you how poisonous chocolate is! Humans often use caffeine as a stimulant, but dogs have a poor metabolism for theobromine, taking an average of 72 hours to metabolize it. This is why dogs should not eat chocolate, as a large amount can lead to poisoning and harm the dog’s central nervous system, heart, and kidneys, which requires special attention! How much chocolate does a dog need to consume to suffer from theobromine poisoning? How to calculate it? There are many types of chocolate, and each contains different levels of theobromine! Dogs are not completely unable to eat chocolate, but consuming a certain amount can lead to theobromine poisoning. Now, the editor will help you organize how to calculate the toxic amount of theobromine. The theobromine poisoning concentration varies for each dog, calculated using the dog’s weight and theobromine + caffeine content. Chocolate type and theobromine + caffeine content per gram (mg): White chocolate 0.009 mg theobromine, 0.03 mg caffeine; Milk chocolate 35% 2 mg theobromine, 0.21 mg caffeine; Dark chocolate 70% 5 mg theobromine, 0.7 mg caffeine; Dark chocolate 100% 13.6 mg theobromine, 1.65 mg caffeine; Cocoa beans 21 mg theobromine, none caffeine; Pure cocoa powder 26 mg theobromine, 2.46 mg caffeine. How to calculate the theobromine poisoning concentration value for dogs? Chocolate intake (grams) * {theobromine + caffeine content (mg)} / Dog weight (kg) = toxicity concentration value. If the value is less than 20, it is mild, and symptoms of muscle twitching start at 60. If it exceeds 100, it is highly dangerous and requires immediate medical attention! For pet parents who get headaches from numbers, the editor will calculate an example for you: For example, the editor’s Chihuahua weighs 2 kg and ate 30 grams of milk chocolate. The chocolate poisoning value is 30g * (2+0.21mg) / 2kg = 82.65, which is already a dangerous value and requires medical attention for induced vomiting! And the editor’s adult Labrador Retriever weighs 30 kg and also ate 30 grams of milk chocolate. The chocolate poisoning value is 30g * (2+0.21mg) / 30kg = 2.21, which is a super mild value and is not a problem! The amount of chocolate that can poison an adult Chihuahua may not poison an adult Labrador Retriever.
Data Source: Chocolate intoxication, Sharon Gwaltney-Brant (DVM, PhD), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). What should you do if your dog accidentally eats chocolate? What symptoms might occur? If a dog ingests a high amount of theobromine found in chocolate and reaches toxic levels, it may exhibit the following reactions, ranging from mild to severe: restlessness, excitement, trembling, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, seizures, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest. High-concentration chocolate poisoning is extremely dangerous; if ingestion occurs, induce vomiting with saltwater immediately and rush the dog to a nearby veterinary hospital for professional treatment. Pay special attention to keeping pure dark chocolate out of your dog’s reach! There are many other common foods that dogs should not eat. The following is a list compiled for dog owners to understand: Garlic, leeks, onions, and green onions contain disulfides, which can destroy a dog’s red blood cells and easily lead to symptoms such as hematuria and vomiting and diarrhea. Just a few small pieces can disrupt the normal function of red blood cells, and even when pureed, these foods are not safe for dogs. Grapes and raisins are somewhat controversial foods and are generally not recommended for dogs. Grapes contain phosphorus and lithium ions, which can be harmful to the liver and kidneys if consumed in large amounts and can also affect nerve conduction functions. The issue with grapes is that even when dried, they remain harmful to dogs. Therefore, dog owners who enjoy eating grapes and raisins should be especially careful not to share them with their pets! Fruit pits and nut kernels contain cyanide. Seeds and fruit kernels must be removed before feeding to dogs, not only to prevent indigestion but also because some fruit seeds contain substances that can poison dogs. Moreover, certain nuts, such as walnuts and macadamia nuts, should be avoided for dogs. Feeding leftover bones is a practice often encouraged by older generations, but it is highly discouraged. If bones are not cooked thoroughly, they can shatter and cut the dog’s esophagus and stomach. If someone recalls their dog eating bones without issue, it is important to note that feeding bones is quite risky. While there may be no immediate problems, dogs cannot communicate their pain, and esophageal cuts may go unnoticed. Consider whether your dog at home often coughs; this could be due to ingesting sharp hard objects that cut the esophagus. Dogs cannot actively express pain, and while oral or tongue injuries are minor, if bones pierce the stomach and become lodged in internal organs, it is a serious and dangerous situation! Dairy products and caffeinated beverages should be avoided except for dog milk powder sold in pet stores. Regular human milk should be minimized as most dogs suffer from lactose intolerance, especially puppies, with puppies aged one to three months being particularly susceptible to dehydration and diarrhea from drinking milk. Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and black tea, should also be avoided for dogs, as they may cause arrhythmias. High-fat and high-salt diets should be avoided. Dogs who regularly consume high-fat foods are prone to illness, such as pancreatitis.
It is advisable for dogs to avoid human food, which is typically high in salt and oil. Even after rinsing, these foods retain a high fat and sodium content that can be too much for a dog’s digestive system to handle. This can lead to various health issues such as pancreatitis, skin diseases, or salt poisoning. For further reading on how to prevent pancreatitis in dogs and the importance of avoiding high-fat diets, please refer to our article ‘How to Avoid Canine Pancreatitis: A Must-Know Guide for Pet Parents’.
How should one choose a diet for their dog? There are many edible foods for dogs that cannot be exhaustively listed due to space constraints. The editor has also compiled a list of fruits that dogs should not eat for pet parents to consider. For more detailed information on dietary taboos for dogs, please continue reading. If pet parents are concerned about their dogs consuming inappropriate items, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian before introducing any new foods to their diet. Alternatively, one can use search engines to look up relevant information, but it is also crucial to verify and discern useful information from the search results. Pet parents can use search engines to find information before giving their dogs new foods. While search engines are very convenient for finding information, it is important to be discerning about the accuracy of the data.
In addition to providing peace of mind for pet parents when feeding their dogs, this approach can also prevent accidental ingestion of harmful substances. Other articles of interest to pet parents include: ‘Dog Oral Health’, a detailed guide on the concept of dog brushing and how to calculate the frequency, and ‘How to Tell a Dog’s Age’, a guide on how to convert a dog’s age.
In summary, the question of whether dogs can eat chocolate highlights the importance of planning and moderating a dog’s diet. However, dogs themselves do not understand the concept of moderation, so pet parents must be vigilant. Some may argue that a dog can live healthily for years eating leftovers, but it is important to note that dietary needs vary among different breeds, sizes, ages, living environments, and levels of physical activity. It is crucial not to generalize. If you want your furry companions to be with you for a longer time, pay close attention to their diet. Recommended reading includes: ‘Understanding a Dog’s Age and Aging State: A Guide to Differentiating Canine Age Groups’. The editor advises against indiscriminately allowing dogs to eat anything, as consuming certain foods in small amounts may not be harmful, but long-term or excessive consumption can lead to poisoning. By carefully monitoring the diet of your greedy pets, you can help them avoid danger and enjoy a longer companionship with you. For more information, please see the editor’s comprehensive prevention guide for heartworms in dogs and cats.
Limited-time trial pack available for only 50 yuan, including free shipping. Click to use the discount code. Check out our latest article: ‘Cat Body Language Explained: Understanding 18 Types of Feline Body Language in 3 Seconds’ dated February 3, 2023. ‘How to Handle Cat Fights’: Preventing Feline Fights and an Essential Guide for Multi-Cat Households, dated January 26, 2023. ‘Essential Items for New Dog Owners: 7 Must-Have Items, Care Tips, and Essential Knowledge’, dated January 23, 2023. ‘Why Does My Cat Keep Meowing?’: Understanding the Reasons Behind a Cat’s Constant Meowing and How to Address It, dated January 8, 2023. ‘Foods Cats Can Eat’: 20 Human Foods That Can Also Provide Nutritional Benefits for Cats, dated December 24, 2022.
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