How much is too much?

[CAM]

The dog wouldn't come in the house when I called her in from outside about an hour ago. I should have known something wasn't right because she always comes running when I call her but I let it go this time because I was getting the kids bathed and ready for bed. When I got her to come in just now I saw her licking her lips. My first thought...uh oh, she was into the outside garbage can. I went out to check and sure enough, she had pulled some garbage out. I went about picking it up and came across a box of chocolates (like See's candy but a different brand). The box was opened and there was only one candy left! Now, don't get me wrong, we don't throw a good box of chocolate away. Oh no, no, no and trust me, hardly a chocolate makes it past my fingers but...this was one nasty box of chocolates! :lol: Needless to say, the dog didn't think so and gobbled all but one up. She probably had a about 10 chocolates. What do you think? Worst case, she might throw them up? With three kids I am not one to overact but I have never had my dog eat chocolates before. Probably because they don't last long enough in this house for the dog to ever have a chance.

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Edited to say: the dog is a female Rottweiler rescue. Small for her breed at 69 pounds and 2-3 years old.

 

[Farmhand]

I know you aren't supposed to give dogs chocolate but don't know how much would be harmful, maybe do a Google search on the subject

 

[crponies]

A Sheltie that my aunt had in the past loved chocolate. Don't get me wrong, we didn't feed it to her on purpose. However, if she could figure out how to get into the cookie container she would steal the chocolate chip cookies and one time she ate a big chocolate bunny. We never noticed her having any adverse side-effects. I wonder if maybe it's not just that some dogs are allergic to chocolate and have had big problems and that's why it is thought to be poisonous to them.

 

[CAM]

I did a google search (thank you, Farmhand) and it sounds like she should be ok. I double checked the amount of chocolate in the package to be only 6oz and she left one behind. I guess I will watch for frequent urination, vomiting (wouldn't that be a pretty one at 3am?!

, increased thirst and diarrhea (another nice thing to find in the dark while you are cleaning up the vomit at 3am!

. I guess the big factor is the theobromine in the chocolate, if in large enough doses, causes an irregular heartbeat by acting as a cardiac stimulant and is a diuretic, hence the frequent urination and thirst.

Mary Lou~the kids are in bed now so the only one she will bite is me.

: :bgrin

 

[shminifancier]

MilkChocolate really is not the problem it is the Dark Chccolate that is in unsweeten choco it is the cacoa that dogs should not be given not milk chocolate Like Hershys etc. cookies like Oreos are not bad for dogs either..

 

[nootka]

I haven't any advice for you, but I will keep you and him in my thoughts and hope that he is just fine.

Silly things sure manage to give us lotsa grey hairs, huh?

Liz

 

[Marty]

Darn good think that your garbage can isn't in Idaho.

I know a certain forum member that would go in the dumpster if it would mean her getting some free chocolate

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[crponies]

Shhh, Marty, don't tell on us! :bgrin In all seriousness, people around here do go dumpster diving (it may even be considered an official sport) and I do love chocolate. I think I know who are are really talking about though LOL

 

[CharmedMinis]

To be on the safe side you can give her 1 Tablespoon of Hydrogen Peroxide. It will cause her to vomit up whatever she ate. If she hasn't vomited within 5 minutes of the dose, you can do the dose again, and one more time after another 10 minutes. But usually the first dose is sufficient.

I am not a vet, but I have worked as a vet tech, and have had to use the above treatment with my dog Homer on a few occasions (chocolate, wormer, 12 eggs with shell), he's a hound he finds everything.

 

[stormo41]

it's true that only dark chocolate and types used for baking can really harm our doggie friends, but still chocolate is not something they should eat. glad you did the google sheach, and just keep and eye on her. update us in the morning!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

ANY chocolate, except the kind made for dogs that has no actual cocoa butter in it, is potentially poisonous.

If there is a type that is less poisonous it is Milk.

Less poisonous still is the actual chocolates in boxes as they have little chocolate - only a coating of the stuff.

That being said, my Dobes can and have guzzled a pound of Dark Belgian Chocolate (the very worst for dogs) with not even a side affect!!

On th either hand my friend's Tibetan Spaniel ate ONE square of Milk Chocolate and nearly died of torsion- it depends entirely how sensitive the dog is to the poison involved.

 

[Pepipony]

Also milk chocolate has far less chocolate ( usually only 25%) of dark/semi sweet. So they would have to eat 75% more milk to have the same effects of dark/semi. If I am thinking right , a small dog would need 12oz of dark/semi to be harmfull. Which would mean 36oz of milk. Confused? LOL

If dog starts acting puny, take him to the Vet, just to be safe. Hope everything turns out all right!! Wonder how he'll be when the buzz wears off?

:

 

[CAM]

So far so good. She has had no ill effects from the chocolate and is her normal self. :aktion033: Thanks for all your input. It really put my mind at ease.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

She'll be fine. As said it is the dark chocolate that is most deadly. I had a poodle eat an entire easter basket one year. I panicked and called the vet. He siad same as Lindsay, a teasp of peroxide or just see how she is. She was fine, a bit hyper though.

 

[tifflunn]

She'll be fine. As said it is the dark chocolate that is most deadly. I had a poodle eat an entire easter basket one year. I panicked and called the vet. He siad same as Lindsay, a teasp of peroxide or just see how she is. She was fine, a bit hyper though.

We lost an easter basket too! :lol: we called the vet and he was O.K. due to the type of chocolate- but watch out for the pooping, pretty runny later on- not sure if it was from the chocolate or the grass and basket. :bgrin

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Darn good think that your garbage can isn't in Idaho.

I know a certain forum member that would go in the dumpster if it would mean her getting some free chocolate

:

:

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LOL hey now... not in the dumpster for any old chocolate but for sees candies you can bet i would be fighting your dog for it

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For what it is worth my dogs eat all kinds of stuff i mean eat and digest, from pants legs (ravens) to socks, sweatshirts, chocolate, crackers, pens, pencils, lighters you name it.. and they are fine although do have some upset tummies now and then. the new game is lets get in the trash as soon as mom goes out to see the horses and no matter what I do or what type of cans i have they succeed, in fact the stupid parrot always yells at the top of his lungs BAD (wth some beeped out words) when i walk in the door and they have gotten in the trash if only I could get the stupid bird to yell this AS they are knocking down the trash the problem would be solved...

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Oh that takes me back Lisa, I had a Dobe who could operate a pedal bin. Now, I loved her but I have to admit she was not the brightest lamp on the street- she opened the bin and her Corgi friend used to jump in, eat everything he could then jump out again. Took my friend ages to work out what was going on as Schroeder, the Corgi, never made a mess, just got an upset stomach!!

I agree they can digest almost anything- mine are trying to work out if they can actually survive on horse crap alone- at least I assume that is what they are trying to do, horses crap, some dried bread, a bit of bird food- the odd Yorkshire Terrier- Chocolate is only really dangerous if the dog has no tolerance for it- when you get dogs being fed a proper varied diet a bit of cocoa fat in there should just pass through.

Of course Vets love to make a thing out of it and I am quite sure a number of dogs have had their stomachs pumped for no reason at all- my friends Tibetan, however, would definitely have died, he was at deaths door for six weeks.

 

[CAM]

Darn good think that your garbage can isn't in Idaho.

I know a certain forum member that would go in the dumpster if it would mean her getting some free chocolate

:

:

:

LOL hey now... not in the dumpster for any old chocolate but for sees candies you can bet i would be fighting your dog for it

:

For what it is worth my dogs eat all kinds of stuff i mean eat and digest, from pants legs (ravens) to socks, sweatshirts, chocolate, crackers, pens, pencils, lighters you name it.. and they are fine although do have some upset tummies now and then. the new game is lets get in the trash as soon as mom goes out to see the horses and no matter what I do or what type of cans i have they succeed, in fact the stupid parrot always yells at the top of his lungs BAD (wth some beeped out words) when i walk in the door and they have gotten in the trash if only I could get the stupid bird to yell this AS they are knocking down the trash the problem would be solved...

Thanks for the laugh Lisa and Jane! After reading your posts I am no longer worried about my dog. :lol:

 

[Miniv]

How IS your dog, Debra? He should be showing signs of distress by now, right?

MA

 

[keeperofthehorses]

Idaho must be full of chocoholics :bgrin I keep a huge one pound Hershey brick next to the computer. Darrin buys me a new one when he sees it getting whittled away. Smart man... he knows how to keep me quiet and happy.

We had a dog that stole a one pound bag of chocoate covered espresso beans once--he did need to be hospitalized for a few days and was pretty darn sick.

On a side note... chocolate dog vomit makes some wicked carpet stains, so might want to put the doggie on a linolium floor.