Most pet owners are aware that chocolate may be lethal to their beloved canine. In fact, even a modest bit of chocolaty deliciousness can harm your pet. However, with the growing popularity of white chocolate-covered sweets, some pet owners may question if white chocolate may be Fido-friendly.
Can dogs eat White Chocolate?
Unfortunately, dogs eat white chocolate, like milk and dark chocolate, is off-limits to our four-legged pals. Dark and milk chocolate have long been known to contain theobromine, a chemical that is extremely harmful to dogs. Certain brands of white chocolate, according to some reports, are also dangerous because they contain up to “35 percent cocoa solids,” and dogs can’t metabolize them the way humans can, so it can quickly form toxic levels and which lead to death. Chocolate also includes caffeine, which is another reason why it should not be shared with Rover.
The darker and more bitter the chocolate, however, the more toxic it is for our dogs. Baking chocolate and premium dark chocolate, for example, are extremely concentrated and consequently contain anything from 130 to 450 mg of theobromine per ounce, whereas normal milk chocolate comprises only 44 to 58 mg/ounce. Caffeine levels are also higher in darker chocolates.
White chocolate, on the other hand, has just 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate.In comparison to milk or dark chocolate, white chocolate is definitely the safest bet for dogs.
White Chocolate’s Negative Effects on Dogs:
However, just because your dog snatches some dogs eat white chocolate doesn’t mean they’re safe—toxic quantities of theobromine have been found to be as low as 20 mg/kg, so if your dog sneaks into the cabinet and devours a hoard of white chocolate candies, he or she might be poisoned.
If your dog takes more than 40 mg of theobromine, they may develop cardiac concerns such as rapid heart rate, heart arrhythmias, or elevated blood pressure, while dosages greater than 60 mg may cause neurologic symptoms like tremors, twitching, and even convulsions. Though fatal poisonings (which can result in severe circumstances such as cardiac arrest) are usually triggered when dogs take more than 200 mg, any of these disorders might lead to fatal consequences. As a result, chocolate consumption is especially dangerous for elderly canines or those with preexisting problems. However, even white chocolate, which contains less theobromine, can cause cardiac problems in dogs of any size, age, or breed.
When it comes to white chocolate, theobromine is not the only health concern for your dog. There are several additional reasons why you should not feed white chocolate to your dog. These are some examples:
- High amounts of sugar, which is harmful to dogs, and given enough of it can induce obesity, diabetes, and pancreatitis.
- The risk of white chocolate containing raisins or macadamia nuts, both of which are extremely hazardous to dogs,
- To eat the wrappers, which might induce an intestinal blockage. This is typically lethal and necessitates surgery to remove the impediment.
- The potential is that your dog is allergic to any preservatives used and will suffer from anaphylactic shock.
White Chocolate Poisoning Symptoms in Dogs:
- Panting or agitation
- Drooling
- Dehydration
- My heart rate has increased.
- Urination that is excessive
- Seizures
What Should You Do If Your Dog consumes White Chocolate?
If your dog consumes white chocolate (or any type of chocolate), you must immediately inform your veterinarian, since watching your pet or waiting for signs might leave your dog too sick to treat properly. Chocolate poisoning symptoms might take many hours to appear but can linger for days due to theobromine’s extended half-life. The standard treatment for chocolate ingestion in dogs is to induce vomiting as soon as possible after the chocolate has been consumed, which is why time is of the essence—you’ll need to take your pet to your veterinarian’s office or an animal hospital right away. In rare circumstances, your veterinarian may inject activated charcoal to prevent theobromine absorption into the body, and in mild cases of poisoning, this may be all that is required.
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