Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital is warning pet owners
against the temptation to share chocolate with their dogs this
Easter. Murdoch Pet Emergency Centre (MPEC) lecturer, Dr.
Melissa Claus, said it is not unusual to have pets utilising the
critical care service as a result of chocolate toxicity. Sadly
chocolate can be poisonous to dogs, Dr. Claus said. The darker
the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more toxic
it is to dogs. A dog weighing five kilograms could develop mild
signs of toxicity after eating 50 grams of milk chocolate or
just seven grams of cooking chocolate. The same size dog could
seizure after eating 100 grams of milk chocolate or 15 grams of
cooking chocolate, and ingestion of larger amounts can cause
death. The signs to look for include hyperactivity, tremors,
seizures, a fast or irregular heartbeat, panting, overheating,
or collapse. Dr. Claus said chocolate is toxic to dogs because
of the theobromine and caffeine content. White chocolate doesnt
contain these compounds