Dachshund (Detailed Introduction)

　　Many dog owners have heard that dogs cannot eat chocolate, but why exactly is that? In the United States, a popular saying is that small-sized pet dogs cannot eat chocolate or they risk death, even if they just eat a tiny bit. Is it really that scary? Below, the editor will help you find the answer!

　　Dogs have accompanied humans for a long time, and perhaps for this reason, people and dogs share similar food preferences. However, when it comes to sweets, while humans can easily digest them, dogs cannot. The chocolate humans love the most is toxic to them and may even take their lives at times. The more chocolate dogs eat, especially authentic chocolate, the greater the harm they suffer. Possibly due to immune differences, large dogs may not have major problems eating a little chocolate, but owners of small dogs should pay special attention and never let their beloved pets eat even a tiny bit of chocolate.

Chocolate

　　Chocolate is made from cocoa beans and contains various methylxanthine derivatives, including caffeine and theobromine. These substances bind to certain receptors on cell surfaces, blocking natural substances in the animal's body from binding to these receptors. When dogs ingest small amounts of methylxanthines, they experience vomiting and diarrhea, whereas humans may feel euphoria. Chocolate contains a large amount of theobromine and a small amount of caffeine; if dogs consume too much chocolate, they may suffer muscle spasms or even shock. After ingesting theobromine and caffeine, a dog's heart rate can suddenly rise to more than twice the normal rate, and some dogs become hyperactive, like after drinking a large cup of strong coffee.

　　Dogs can digest small amounts of chocolate, but how much depends on their size and the type of chocolate consumed. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains more than six times the amount of methylxanthines compared to milk chocolate. Experts reveal that for some small dogs, 4 ounces (about 120 grams) of milk chocolate may be a lethal dose.

　　During every festive season filled with celebrations such as Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas, many owners rush their dogs to animal hospitals for treatment. Hackett, a veterinarian with 16 years of experience, said: “Although many dogs get sick, in these 16 years I have only seen one that actually died from chocolate. The toxic effects of chocolate on dogs may be a chronic process.”

　　If a dog eats only a small amount of chocolate, it can still resist it and no vet visit is necessary. But if too much is eaten too quickly, the dog must be made to ingest activated charcoal to clear methylxanthines from the chocolate, preventing them from entering the bloodstream through the digestive system. Although chocolate doesn’t instantly take dogs’ lives, owners should still avoid feeding chocolate to their beloved pets.