Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs

Contributed by Deb:

Since this info is all over the web, and comes from a book, I consider it public domain. So I will post it here without any concerns:

Chocolate - active ingredient = theobromine: The half life in the dog is 17.5 hours

The Toxic dose in the dog is 100-150 mg/kg.A kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs. A milligram(mg) = 1/1000 of a gram

So for a 50 pound dog, a toxic dose would be roughly 2.2 grams (2200 mg) of pure chocolate.

However the concentration of theobromine varies with the formulation of the chocolate so: Milk chocolate has 44mg/oz (154mg/100gm) :toxic dose for 50 lb dog - 50 oz of milk chocolate.

Semisweet chocolate has 150 mg/oz (528mg/100gm) :toxic dose for 50 lb dog - 15 oz of semisweet chocolate

Baking chocolate 390mg/oz (1365 mg/100gm):toxic dose for 50 lb dog - 5 oz of baking chocolate

Thus a dog eating one oz of baking chocolate would have to eat almost 3 oz of semisweet or 10 oz of milk chocolate to get the same dose of theobromine.

The theobromine in candies consisting of chocolate that is coated over some other substance - as in filled candies and chocolate coated dried fruits, etc. will be more dilute than that in pure chocolate bars and solid chocolate candies.

Obviously the chocolate in milk chocolate is quite dilute and this is why many dogs can eat a piece here and there and seem not to show toxic effects, how many dogs would get ahold of 50 oz at a time? This is not true of the more concentrated forms however.

Dr Sue Bank's experience was that she had two dogs, a 95 pound one and a 60 pound one. They got ahold of 2 one pound bags of Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate pieces (a bag each). The 95 pound dog survived but the 60 pound dog ingested a toxic dose.

The problem with feeding a dog milk chocolate as a treat is that it develops a liking for chocolate and since dogs do not seem to be as sensitive to bitter tastes as humans - it may then eat the more concentrated, and thus quite toxic, baker's chocolate if it gets a chance or it will consume a toxic amount of milk or semi-sweet chocolate if it can get into a improperly stored supply.

Treatment which is best administered by someone with medical training follows the same strategy as treatment for caffeine overdose: Support Respiration Support cardiovascular function, control arrhythmia's, control electrolytes and acid-base balance. Control CNS excitation. Emesis Gastric lavage Cathartic Activated charcoal.

Administration of an activated charcoal slurry is a major component of the treatment and needs to be administered by a veterinarian - it is not a home treatment. From Kirk and Bistner's Handbook of Veterinary Procedures and Emergency Treatment 6th edition. ************ *********

Vitamin Rich Meal for Felines

• 1/3 c Cottage cheese
• 2 tb Bisquick
• 1 tb Chopped liver
• 1 tb Corn oil
• 1 Dash iodized salt

Mix all together for 1-2 delicious cat servings.

Dog's Long Life Treats

• 4 C. FLOUR
• 1 C.OLIVE OIL
• 2 TEA. MINICED GARLIC
• 1/4 C. HONEY
• 1/2 C. WATER

PRE-HEAT OVEN TO 325 DEGREES MIX INGEREDIENTS TOGETHER ROLL OUT THEN CUT COOKIES PUT ON GREASED PAN PUT IN OVEN TILL GOLDEN BROWN(APPROX.5-10 MIN.)

Cat Crackers

• 6 Ounces Undrained tuna
• 1 C Cornmeal
• 1 C Flour
• 1/3 C Water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into treat sized pieces. Place on a greased cookie sheet. bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Let cool prior to serving.

Basic Dog Biscuits

• 2 1/2 c Whole wheat flour
• 1 ts Sugar
• 1 ts Salt
• 6 tb Margarine
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 c Skim milk
• 1/4 c Creamy peanut butter
• 2 ts water, cold (approx.)
• 2 Egg whites lightly beaten
• Sesame seeds (optional)

1. Combine flour, sugar and salt. With a pastry blender or a fork, cut in the margarine until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

2. Beat egg in a small bowl. Stir in milk and peanut butter (mixture will be lumpy). Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir. Stir in the water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the dough forms a ball.

3. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for 3 minutes. Roll dough out to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Brush with beaten egg whites and, if desired, sprinkle with sesame seeds.

4. Bake in a preheated 350'F oven until firm and golden, about 30 minutes.

Chicken Liver Dog Cookies

• 2 c Flour
• 3 T Vegetable oil
• 1 c Wheat germ or cornmeal
• 1 Egg lightly beaten
• 1/2 c Chicken broth
• 2 ts Chopped parsley
• 1 c Chopped chicken liver cooked

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine flour and wheat germ. In a separate bowl, beat egg with oil, then add broth and parsley; mix well. Add dry ingredients to bowl a little at a time, stirring well. Fold in chicken livers and mix well. Dough will be firm.

Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out 1/2" thick and cut into shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet 1" apart and bake for 15 minutes or until firm. Store in refrigerator.

Somethin' Fishy Doggie Treats

• 1 can tuna or salmon
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 cups (or more as needed) whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray Cookie Sheet with cooking spray oil.

Put all ingredients, except flour, into a food processor and process till well combined. Add flour through processor tube until blended and the mixture forms into a stiff dough using extra flour as needed.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface and kneed for about 1 minute. Roll out to a thickness of about 1/4".

Cut into shapes using a cookie cutter dipped in flour.

Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake treats for about 30 minutes or until firm and nicely browned. Cool treats on a wire rack.

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Oatmeal - Wheat Germ Dog Cookies

• 3 c Whole wheat flour
• 3 c Uncooked oatmeal
• 1/2 c Plain wheat germ
• 6 tb Margarine
• 1/4 c Molasses
• 1 c Evaporated milk
• 1 c Water

Mix together the first 3 ingredients. Then thoroughly mix in the last 4 ingredients. Dough will be stiff. Chill for a half hour. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Flatten, place on greased cookie sheet, and bake for 1 hour at 300F.

Basic Dog Bones

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup powdered low fat dry milk
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 6 tbs. unsalted butter
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/2 cup ice water

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter or shortening. Mix water and egg, add to dry ingredients. Grease cookie sheet.

Pat dough out to about 1/2 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter.

Pat out scraps and proceed as before. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Gourmet Dog Biscuits

• 12-16 ounces raw liver
• 1 1/2 lb White flour
• 8 oz Quaker Oats
• 3 Bouillon cubes, meat or chicken flavored
• 1 c Water- approx.
• 2 Eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 3 cookie sheets. Chop the liver finely, or put briefly in a blender. Mix flour and oats, crumble in the bouillon cubes, add eggs and the chopped liver. Add enough water to make a firm but slightly sticky dough. Spread evenly on the cookie sheets, about 1/2" thick.Dip a small dog-cookie cutter in flour before cutting out each portion. Bake 1 hour.

Can be kept for about 2 weeks. Store in refrigerator.

Matzoh Balls for Dogs!

• 2 Eggs, raw; lightly beaten
• 1 ts Oil, polyunsaturated
• 1/2 c water, cold
• 1 c Dog food, all-natural dry
• Dash of Garlic powder
• 1/2 c homemade chicken broth -- no onions!!!

Grind the ingredients smooth in food processor or blender 1 cup of all-natural dry dog food and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Add to wet ingredients. Form 1 1/2 inch balls. Drop into 1 quart boiling water mixed with 1/2 cup chicken broth; boil 3 minutes, remove, cover and store balls in refrigerator.

Bad Breath Banisher Dog Cookies

• 2 cups brown rice flour
• 1 Tablespoon activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not the BBQ briquets!)
• 3 Tablespoons canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2/3 cup lowfat milk

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients.Drop teaspoonfulls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Heavenly Sardine Treat for Cats

• 2 flat cans of sardines in oil
• 2/3 C. cooked rice
• 1 T. Liver
• 1/4 C. Parsley, chopped

Combine all ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up sardines into bite-sized pieces. Store unused portion in refrigerator, tightly covered.

CARROT DOG COOKIES

• 6 Jars Baby Food Carrots
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tablesppon Garlic powder
• 2 Cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 Cup dry rolled oats
• 1/4 Cup wheat germ

Combine carrots, eggs and garlic. Mix until smooth. Add dry ingredients. Roll out on heavily floured surface and cut into bars or desired shapes. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes or to desired crunchiness. The centers will continue to harden as they cool. Brush with egg white before baking for a glossy finish.

Cat Chow Cookies

• 1 1/4 C. whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 C. soy flour
• 1/4 C. water
• 1 egg
• 2 T. wheat germ
• 2 T. molasses
• 2 T. margarine
• 1 t. organic catnip

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flours, liquid, egg, wheat germ, molasses, margarine and catnip.

Lightly flour a rolling pin. Roll out the batter on a greased cookie sheet. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Bake 20 to 22 minutes.

Allow to cool before serving. Store the leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place.

SPECIAL DIET: CARROT DOG BISCUITS (Low Purine for Kidney

• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 2 cups white rice flour
• 6 tablespoons safflower oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 tablespoons grated carrot
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together well. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool and store in tightly sealed container.