When is Chocolate Ingestion Dangerous for Dogs and Cats?

Chocolate contains many substances. Theobromine and caffeine are of health importance for dogs and cats. Theobromine, in particular, is toxicToxic means “poisonous” and refers to substances that can have harmful effects on the body, including damage to organs, cells, or disruption of metabolic processes. to dogs and cats, but as almost always, the amount of substance ingested is important for its potential toxicityToxicity is the measure of a substance’s harmfulness or poisonousness. Toxicity can vary depending on the dose, route of exposure, and individual sensitivity.. Cats are quite picky and usually don’t like to eat chocolate, so there is hardly any risk of poisoning for them.

Examples of theobromine content

• 1 cup of filtered coffee contains 50 to 175 milligrams of theobromine
• Cocoa powder for baking contains 14–26 mg/g powder theobromine
• Dark chocolate with 90% cocoa contains 26 mg/g chocolate theobromine
• Bittersweet chocolate contains 5–8 mg/g chocolate theobromine
• Milk chocolate contains only 1.5-2 mg/g chocolate theobromine
• White chocolate contains almost no theobromine, as the cocoa powder is removed during the production of the cocoa massIn pathology, the term “mass” is used to describe an abnormal lump or growth in the body. A mass can form in the skin or subcutaneous tissue, or even inside the body. The causes can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer)..

However, not only the theobromine content plays a role in possible poisoning, but also the ratio of theobromine to caffeine content. The highest toxicityToxicity is the measure of a substance’s harmfulness or poisonousness. Toxicity can vary depending on the dose, route of exposure, and individual sensitivity. occurs at a ratio of 5:1.

Symptoms of poisoning

The symptoms of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 2 to 12 hours after ingestionIngestion refers to the intake of substances through the mouth and their delivery to the digestive tract. In dogs and cats, the ingestion of toxic substances, foreign objects, or incompatible foods can lead to health problems. and include:

• Vomiting and DiarrheaDiarrhea refers to the condition of frequent, watery bowel movements, which can be a sign of infections, digestive disorders, or other health problems.
• Restlessness, tremors, HyperactivityHyperactivity refers to an excessively high level of activity that goes beyond normal behavior. In dogs and cats, hyperactivity can be caused by behavioral problems, neurological disorders, or reactions to medications or toxins.
• Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
• Muscle spasms or Convulsions
• Excessive thirst and frequent urination
• In severe cases: comaA coma is a deep state of unconsciousness where an individual cannot be awakened and does not respond to stimuli. In dogs and cats, it can be caused by severe illnesses, poisoning, or neurological problems. or Death

Mild symptoms (Vomiting, DiarrheaDiarrhea refers to the condition of frequent, watery bowel movements, which can be a sign of infections, digestive disorders, or other health problems., Restlessness, increased heart rate) occur at about 20 mg theobromine per kg body weight. Severe symptoms (heart rate over 200 beats/min, Cardiac arrhythmiaAn arrhythmia is a heart rhythm disorder in which the heart beats irregularly, either too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or with an irregular pattern. Arrhythmias can be harmless or a sign of serious heart problems., muscle tremors, Convulsions) occur at about 40–50 mg/kg.

The lethal (fatal) dose is stated to be 250 – 500 mg/kg body weight, depending on the individual sensitivity of the animal.

Depending on the severity of the poisoning and the duration of treatment, long-term damage can occur, especially if treatment is delayed. However, early and aggressive therapyTherapy refers to the treatment of diseases or disorders with the aim of alleviating symptoms, promoting healing, or improving quality of life. Therapies can be medicinal, surgical, or through other medical interventions. can prevent many complications.

Fig.: Decrease in theobromine levels with an initialInitial means beginning or at the start. In medicine, it can refer to the first symptoms of a disease or the first phase of a treatment process. value of 200 mg/kg body weight

Course (absorptionAbsorption refers to the uptake of substances by living cells or tissues. In the context of veterinary medicine, it often refers to the absorption of nutrients, drugs, or toxins from the digestive tract into the bloodstream., breakdown and excretion):

The absorptionAbsorption refers to the uptake of substances by living cells or tissues. In the context of veterinary medicine, it often refers to the absorption of nutrients, drugs, or toxins from the digestive tract into the bloodstream. of theobromine from the gastrointestinalGastrointestinal refers to the gastrointestinal tract, a system that extends from the oral cavity to the anus and is responsible for the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients. tract occurs relatively quickly within 2–4 hours and then enters the central nervous systemThe CNS (central nervous system) consists of the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for processing information and controls most functions of the body and behavior., the cardiovascular system and the muscles via the bloodstream. Theobromine has a stimulating effect on the brain, which can lead to Restlessness, HyperactivityHyperactivity refers to an excessively high level of activity that goes beyond normal behavior. In dogs and cats, hyperactivity can be caused by behavioral problems, neurological disorders, or reactions to medications or toxins. and, in extreme cases, to Convulsions. In the cardiovascular system, theobromine increases the heart rate and can triggerA trigger is a stimulus that elicits a specific reaction or state. In veterinary medicine, this can refer to emotional responses, such as fear or aggression, or medical conditions, such as seizures in dogs and cats. Cardiac arrhythmiaAn arrhythmia is a heart rhythm disorder in which the heart beats irregularly, either too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or with an irregular pattern. Arrhythmias can be harmless or a sign of serious heart problems..

The breakdown (metabolism) of theobromine in the body takes place in the liver. While humans break down theobromine relatively quickly, the metabolism in dogs and cats is significantly slower. This leads to a longer retention time in the body and increases the risk of toxicToxic means “poisonous” and refers to substances that can have harmful effects on the body, including damage to organs, cells, or disruption of metabolic processes. effects. In the case of liver diseases, the breakdown of theobromine can also be impaired, which also leads to increased toxicityToxicity is the measure of a substance’s harmfulness or poisonousness. Toxicity can vary depending on the dose, route of exposure, and individual sensitivity.. Certain medications can also delay the breakdown of theobromine.

The excretion of theobromine mainly occurs via the kidneys. If kidney function is impaired, the excretion of theobromine can be delayed, which increases the risk of toxicToxic means “poisonous” and refers to substances that can have harmful effects on the body, including damage to organs, cells, or disruption of metabolic processes. accumulation.

Immediate measures for chocolate poisoning:

In the event of chocolate poisoning in dogs or cats, quick action is crucial to avoid serious health consequences.

Contact a veterinarian

If the amount of chocolate eaten suggests poisoning, the exact amount is not known, or unclear symptoms already exist, you should immediately take your animal to a veterinarian. For a telephone Contact, you will need: type of chocolate (e.g. milk chocolate, dark chocolate), estimated amount ingested, weight and condition of the animal.

Vomiting

Vomiting shortly after chocolate ingestionIngestion refers to the intake of substances through the mouth and their delivery to the digestive tract. In dogs and cats, the ingestion of toxic substances, foreign objects, or incompatible foods can lead to health problems. is useful, but do not manipulate the animal and do not pour in milk or the like. If the animal is already showing signs of poisoning (e.g. Convulsions or weakness), inducing Vomiting would be dangerous. If your animal vomits on its own, make sure that the mouth is the lowest point of the body so that the stomach contents can drain and not get into the airways.

Activated charcoalActivated charcoal is a fine-pored, highly adsorbing material commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat poisoning. It binds toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their absorption into the body.:

Activated charcoalActivated charcoal is a fine-pored, highly adsorbing material commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat poisoning. It binds toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their absorption into the body. binds toxins in the gastrointestinalGastrointestinal refers to the gastrointestinal tract, a system that extends from the oral cavity to the anus and is responsible for the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients. tract and prevents them from being absorbed from the intestineThe intestine is the medical term for the gut, including the small intestine (intestinum tenue) and the large intestine (intestinum crassum). It plays a central role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. and entering the bloodstream. Medicinal charcoal is freely available in pharmacies, so you can keep it in stock in your first aid kit. The suspended activated charcoalActivated charcoal is a fine-pored, highly adsorbing material commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat poisoning. It binds toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their absorption into the body. can be administered into the cheek pouch using a syringe. Do not bend the head back too far. This makes swallowing difficult. Under no circumstances should anything be poured into convulsing or unconscious animals.