Dogs Eating Chocolate...just how bad?

[M.D. Holloway]

My 85lb Chocolate Lab found and ate 12oz of Harry and David Mini Chocolate Decadence cake. Best estimate was it occurred about 2 hours ago. I was shopping with my Daughter and my Son called all upset saying that Indy had gotten into my daughters room and was found licking the remains. He wanted to know how much was in the package and according to my Daughter pretty much the whole thing.

He seems fine but according to all the scare on-line, symptoms don't set in for another 10 hours. The wife says to chill, that "cool heads prevail. Labs are known to eat anything. He'll be fine...."

Ya, we will see I guess. In a strange twist it would be better if he did get sick because if I take him to the 24 pet ER (one is right down the street...we have everything right down the street) there is no way to know if he was really in danger and my wife will get all "YOU DON'T CONSIDER MY OPINION!" but if he does get sick I can always say 'hmmm...guess I should have brought him to the vet' in a matter of fact sorta way.

[porsche4life]

My grandmas poodle ate m&ms all the time and he was pretty old when he got hit by a car... The quantity might give your pup some stomach troubles, but I bet he's fine. Labs are known to eat anything. Just maybe keep him outside.

[M.D. Holloway]

I should lock him in my Daughters room tonight...let her deal with the puke and poop if/when it happens.

[aigel]

Absolutely a MUST to induce vomiting ASAP. If it is any decent amount of dark cocoa in there, it can kill him. You can do this yourself using peroxide. Or you can call the 24h place and ask for their advice on "toss up recipe".

Here is one I found in 30s.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/03/15/how-and-when-to-induce-vomiting-in-pets.aspx

Good Luck.

G

[Laneco]

A Labrador retriever can eat a tractor tire without any consequences... They are truly a miracle of digestion!

That said, the effects won't start for a quite a while, like 6 or 8 hours. So call your vet to be safe. if you can't get the vet, induce vomiting (hydrogen peroxide will make them vomit). About a teaspoon per ten pounds of weight of 3% solution. Use a turkey baster. If you haven't done this before, this is my preferred method. Have the dog sit backside toward a wall. Straddle the dog, facing same direction as the dog. Use left hand to point the head up toward you, slide the dog's lips over their teeth with the left hand. They'll open the mouth right up. In goes the turkey baster, give it a blast and clamp the mouth shut, rub their throat. They'll swallow. They'll be a pit pissed, but they'll get over it. Usually puke a few minutes later.

I really doubt that there is enough chocolate in that cake to cause an 85 pound dog any problems, especially a Labrador retriever which I swear to God can eat anything. But if you are really concerned... proceed with the above.

angela

[john70t]

Onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, cherries are also bad.

[aigel]

I would not risk it, especially when you can have a quick fix for $1.80 of peroxide. Almost a pound of straight up chocolate cake has a lot of cocoa. Dosage is key ...

Lubey, you are sure your wife didn't eat it, blaming the dog? That may explain why she is against medical action. Go make that dog throw up to see!

G

[M.D. Holloway]

I've seen him make quick work of all sorts of bones and bricks and what have you, I should make her throw up and see!

[aigel]

You are going to give the H2O2 to your wife?

[island911]

2 hours ago... 1oz of unsweetened baking chocolate per 10 pounds of body weight is the toxic dose ...so likely jittery from mild toxicity.

Could take it to the emergency vet if its having tremors

[M.D. Holloway]

I'm having a glass of wine and some sharp cheddar...he's begging for some. I think he's trying to self medicate.

[M.D. Holloway]

Just off the phone with the vet. I dug the remains of the wrapper out of the garbage and calculated what we could - they figure that his size and the estimated Cocoa in what he ingested would suggest mild toxicity but not life threatening.

Worse case he gets the Hershey squirts and my little Princess has to follow him around with a roll of Bounty and a spray bottle full of 409.

[masraum]

Hydrogen peroxide definitely induces vomiting. Our mini dachshund ate some cookies once. It probably would have been fine, but to put the missus's mind at ease, holding the dog's mouth open and pouring hydrogen peroxide down it for a couple of minutes did the trick. Within another minute or two we had a bathtub full of foamy chocolate cookie puke.

[KNS]

Our regular poodle once ate a one pound Hershey's chocolate bar - should have killed him. Came home to find the empty wrapper on the floor, never even phased him.

[island911]

C'mon. We know... this was all a set-up for the punch-line of Hershey squirts out of a Chocolate Lab

[island911]

Originally Posted by Laneco

...

That said, the effects won't start for a quite a while, like 6 or 8 hours. ...

My vet sez more like 2-3 hrs; fwiw.

[zakthor]

When I was 16 our 20lb mutt ate 2/3 of an expensive dark chocolate truffle cake. The richest dark chocolatiest thing I know. . I was capable of eating enormous quantities at the time and couldn't have eaten more. Hugest tummy, dog laid on floor while we scolded him. Was fine the next day and lived many more years.

Not saying this isn't serious and hope your dog is well. I believe chocolate will kill some dogs but not all dogs.

[M.D. Holloway]

Indy appears none the worse for wear this AM. He laid by my side all night and woke me at 6AM with face licks which means he wanted to go outside. He ate a fine breakfast of a cup of Blue Buffalo with water and best I can tell took care of his business outside. He is the midst of bone negotiations with the other 2 dogs - 3 dogs, 2 bones always sets up for a debate of status and pack position. I keep telling them it wouldn't be this way if they would just stop hiding their bones.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Well done. I've had 3 large chocolate labs in the last 16 years. The current rescue is almost 13. My middle one would eat anything. Bread and the wrapper, plastic or foil. Went through my ex wife's purse a few times. Found money he'd eaten in the backyard that came out the other end. We did two emergency vet trips in 8 years. The last one they pulled 12 pounds of christmas wrapping paper out of his gut. The vet, laughing, said it was like a red and green basketball in there.

[flatbutt]

All is well at Camp Holloway.