What To Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate Home Remedies
If your dog has eaten chocolate, you’re likely feeling a mix of emotions. You’re probably worried about what will happen to him, and you might be upset that he got into a dangerous food in the first place. Regardless of the circumstances that led up to this incident, there is hope! It’s important to remember that not all dogs react similarly when they eat chocolate – some survive with no ill effects while others become seriously ill or even die because of their ingestion. Thankfully, there are ways to treat a dog who has eaten chocolate at home – and with success!
Thankfully, there are ways to treat a dog who has eaten chocolate at home – and with success.
Thankfully, there are ways to treat a dog who has eaten chocolate at home – and with success. However, home remedies are not always recommended. In fact, they can be dangerous and ineffective. And though some people may have success treating their dogs at home using these methods, it is important to remember that they do not always work or are even safe or effective.
First of all, how much did your dog consume?
If your dog has consumed an amount of chocolate that is more than the size of a Hershey’s Kiss, then you need to get them to a vet immediately. If you can’t get there right away, call your vet and ask them what they would recommend doing in this situation.
If it was just one Hershey’s Kiss, then don’t worry about it. If it was three or four chocolates, then watch out for vomiting and diarrhea.
If your dog is a larger breed, or even a small puppy, he’ll be able to handle more chocolate than a toy breed.
If your dog is a larger breed, or even a small puppy, he’ll be able to handle more chocolate than a toy breed.
If your dog is already an adult, you should consider how much he weighs before determining how much chocolate he can safely consume. For example, if the dog weighs 50 pounds and ate one square of chocolate with an ounce of cocoa solids in it (this would be similar to eating about three ounces of dark chocolate), then they could eat another 1/2 ounce without too much concern. However, if the same 50 pound dog ate two squares of white baking chocolate with no cocoa solids added (about 12 ounces total), then you should give them only half as much as this amount or less until their symptoms have passed. You may also want to consider giving your furry friend activated charcoal tablets which will help bind up any remaining toxins and prevent further damage from occurring inside their digestive tract.[5]
How dark was the chocolate? Milk chocolate tends to be less toxic than dark chocolate.
While milk chocolate and dark chocolate both contain theobromine, the darker version contains more. The most common type of chocolate to cause toxicity in dogs is dark chocolate, so it’s important to determine if your dog has ingested this substance. If you aren’t sure what kind of chocolate was eaten, ask your veterinarian or call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.
If you know or suspect that your dog has eaten milk or white chocolate, be aware that these are usually safe for dogs to eat in small amounts (1 ounce per pound of body weight). Check with your vet about how much is too much for your dog based on their body size and level of activity beforehand!
Give activated charcoal.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate and is showing signs of toxicity, it’s important to administer activated charcoal as soon as possible. Activated charcoal is a substance that can bind to toxins in the stomach and help prevent them from being absorbed into the bloodstream. The sooner you give the dog activated charcoal, the better.
If you’ve got some on hand, follow these steps:
- For dogs under 50 lbs., give one teaspoon per pound of body weight every 15 minutes for two hours (so if your 20-lb. poodle ate half a chocolate bar or two cookies with filling, give him or her one teaspoon). If they’re over 50 lbs., use two teaspoons per pound every 15 minutes for up to four hours (so if your 90-lb Labrador ate an entire Hershey’s Kisses box, give him or her two teaspoons). If vomiting occurs within 30 minutes after administering activated charcoal, stop giving it and call your vet immediately; vomiting after 30 minutes is normal and does not need treatment at this point in time.
- Continue giving activated charcoal until no more comes out of their mouth for another 24 hours after eating potentially toxic foods like chocolate or other sweets (including xylitol). The next day, have them pee on a special paper strip test kit (“pee sticks”) that will tell you whether they still have traces of anything left behind by those treats—if there’s still some remaining poison inside them after 24 hours’ worth of treatment with activated charcoal then repeat step 1 above again until all traces are gone! It might seem like overkill but better safe than sorry!
Make your dog vomit.
You’ll want to make your dog vomit as soon as possible. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to induce vomiting, but it should not be given more than once every six hours. If that doesn’t work, you can try ipecac syrup (followed by activated charcoal) or syrup of ipecac (followed by activated charcoal). If these options aren’t available, call your vet immediately.
Give your pooch milk to settle her stomach.
Milk is a good choice because it is a mild antacid and can help to neutralize the acid in your pooch’s stomach. Milk also has a lot of protein, which can ease pain and discomfort.
Milk also helps alleviate diarrhea caused by chocolates’ laxative properties, so you should give your dog some if he’s experiencing this symptom as well.
Feed your dog bread dough.
If your dog has eaten chocolate and you’re unable to reach the vet, try feeding them bread dough. It’s cheap, easy to make and will help settle their stomach. Bread dough is also effective in getting rid of any chocolate that may have gotten stuck in their system and can help them poop or pee it out.
To prepare a batch of bread dough:
- Combine 1 cup of flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt then add just enough water (or beer) to create a stiff but not dry dough.
- Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
- Roll out into a ball shape then flatten slightly using your hands or rolling pin if you have one lying around somewhere at home! This gives them something yummy-looking to chew on while we wait for some miracle cure drug from our vet’s office…
Watch for signs of toxicity.
If your dog eats chocolate, you should watch for the following signs of toxicity:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Increased body temperature, breathing rate, and urination (diuretic effect)
- Increased thirst and hunger (craving for sweet food)
It’s emergency time if you need to get them to a veterinarian ASAP!
If your dog shows any signs of toxicity, you need to get him to a veterinarian ASAP!
If you are unable or unwilling to get your pet to a veterinarian, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
If your dog ate chocolate and is showing no signs of toxicity, give them 3 doses (1 tsp per 10 lbs) of activated charcoal mixed with water by mouth. This can help stop the absorption of toxins into their system. Follow this with 4 ounces (1/2 cup) hydrogen peroxide for each 20 pounds body weight for 1 hour. That may cause vomiting and diarrhea which should be managed as necessary until they have passed everything out.
If your dog is vomiting, has diarrhea or seems very weak, he needs to be seen by a vet right away. This is the best way to ensure that he will fully recover from his chocolate poisoning. If he shows signs of being uncomfortable or having trouble breathing or swallowing, take it seriously and call an emergency vet clinic immediately. They will be able to diagnose what’s going on with your dog and decide how best to treat him based on his condition at the moment when they arrive at your home.
