Incidence/Prevalence

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 2006: number 7 hazard encountered by pets
• Dark chocolate is about 10 times as toxic as milk chocolate
• Small dogs or dogs with a history of diabetes, pancreatitis, or heart problems are more sensitive to chocolate than larger, healthy dogs
• The most cases involving chocolate toxicity are associated with dogs
• More common during the holiday season due to increased availability
• Cocoa shell mulch; increasing in popularity for landscaping

Chocolate contains methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger.

• The amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker and the more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to your pets. Cooking or baking chocolate and high quality dark chocolate contains between 130-450 mg of theobromine per ounce of the product, while common milk chocolate only contains 44-58 mg/ounce.
• White chocolate barely poses any threat of chocolate poisoning, with only 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate.
• For a medium size dog, weighing 50 pounds it would take 1 ounce of baker's chocolate or 8 ounces of milk chocolate to potentially show signs of poisoning.

TOXIC DOSES:

• Theobromine toxicity is reported to be as low as 20 mg/kg: agitation, hyperactivity and gastrointestinal signs (such as drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea - all which may smell like chocolate) can be seen.
• At doses > 40 mg/kg, cardiac signs can be seen, and include a tachycardia, hypertension, or arrhythmias.
• At doses > 60 mg/kg, neurologic signs can be seen, and include tremors, twitching, and seizures.
• Fatalities can be seen at 200 mg/kg (approximately 100 mg/lb), or with complications.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning can take several hours to develop, and persist for a long time, due to the long half-life of theobromine. The theobromine can be re-absorbed from the bladder

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased body temperature
• Increased reflex responses
• Muscle rigidity
• Rapid breathing
• Tachycardia
• Low blood pressure
• Seizures
• Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)

CHOCOLATE TOXICITY IN CATS

Although they’re not normally as curious about people foods as dogs are, cat (and kittens in particular) can sometimes eat things they aren’t supposed to eat, including chocolate. Derived from the roasted seeds of the cacao plant, certain properties in chocolate can be toxic to cats when they’re ingested, specifically, caffeine and theobromine. Eating these ingredients can lead to a number of medical complications—some of which may be serious—in your cat. Learn more about the symptoms and treatment of chocolate poisoning in cats, below. These symptoms will be similar as in dogs and vary, based on the amount and type of chocolate that is ingested and can influence the severity of the condition. Varieties of chocolate that can be especially poisonous to cats are milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and baking chocolate.

COMMON DIAGNOSIS

If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate and is experiencing any of the above symptoms, bring it to your veterinarian immediately. You can expect your vet to perform a complete physical exam, including a chemical blood profile, an electrolyte panel, and a urinalysis to help determine if your cat has overdosed on caffeine and theobromine. Your veterinarian may also perform an ECG to help determine if the heart is showing any abnormalities in rhythm or conduction of heart beats. Blood biochemistry and blood profile may also be needed. GENERAL TREATMENT Treatment depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. If treated early, removal of the chocolate from the stomach by administering medications to induce vomiting and administration of activated charcoal to block absorption of theobromine into the body may be all that is necessary. Activated charcoal may be administered every four to six hours for the first twenty-four hours to reduce the continued resorption and recirculation of theobromine. It is very common to provide supportive treatments such as intravenous fluid therapy to help dilute the toxin and promote its excretion. All pets ingesting chocolate should be closely monitored for any signs of agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness, irregular heart rhythm, and high blood pressure. Often, medications to slow the heart rate (e.g., beta- blockers) may be necessary to treat the elevated heart rate and arrhythmia.

PREVENTION

The best form of preventing chocolate toxicity is to always keep chocolate out of your Pet’s reach and be aware of feeding them anything that might contain chocolate.

CONCLUSION:

Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your pet has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit!

REFERENCES: "CAFFEINE & THEOBROMINE." The Hershey Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.