Chocolate Ingestion- A Reminder to the Easter Bunny to Keep Chocolate out of Reach of all Pets!
The call came in on a Sunday evening; a worried owner came home to discover her six year old cocker spaniel had gotten into a bag of dark chocolate candies, and had eaten at least a pound of them! He now was vomiting, and the owner was very concerned.
She was advised to bring him in for treatment right away, as the doctor feared the dog could have ingested a toxic dose of chocolate. Dark chocolate contains more of the concentrated, caffeine-like substance called theobromine that is toxic to dogs, and a relatively small dog eating so much of it was cause for grave concern. Ingesting high doses of chocolate can affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves, and usually requires supportive care and hospitalization to prevent potentially fatal damage.
When the little spaniel first came in he seemed to be doing better. Some of the trouble-making chocolate had been removed from his system when he vomited at home. However, there was no way of knowing how much toxin had already been absorbed, and as a precaution he was admitted into our hospital for the night, where he could receive IV fluids and be closely observed by our medical staff.
Once hospitalized, he was given liquid charcoal orally to help sop up any toxins lingering in his intestines. He seemed to actually like the charcoal, and his penchant for unusual treats is certainly what got him in trouble in the first place!
Within a few hours the little tan and white dog became increasingly agitated, and it was discovered he had a markedly elevated heart rate. He was given medications to treat the emerging symptoms of chocolate toxicity, and was carefully monitored. Soon he developed diarrhea and continued to be excitable and tachycardic (have an increased heart rate), necessitating more medications to moderate his racing heart and a sedative to calm him. He continued to have diarrhea that smelled like chocolate, and was black from the charcoal he was given!
With supportive care the friendly cocker spaniel gradually started feeling better as his symptoms subsided. He was able to go home that afternoon having recovered well from what could have been a tragic situation. If he hadn’t received the constant monitoring and care from our doctor and technician throughout the night the outcome could have been much worse.
If your dog ever accidentally ingests chocolate, please call a veterinarian right away. A doctor can tell you if your dog needs immediate treatment. C.A.R.E. is here to treat all pet emergencies any time your regular veterinary office is closed; nights, weekends and all major holidays. Nothing makes us happier than sending our patients home after successful treatment. And you can bet the cocker spaniel’s “mom” will be keeping her chocolate under lock and key from now on!
—Emily Murray, CVT
