{"id":9285,"date":"2024-02-07T15:02:49","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T15:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=9285"},"modified":"2024-02-07T15:02:49","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T15:02:49","slug":"fur-tunately-stories-of-animal-survival-episode-xix-a-chocolatey-conundrum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/fur-tunately-stories-of-animal-survival-episode-xix-a-chocolatey-conundrum\/","title":{"rendered":"Fur-Tunately: Stories of Animal Survival | Episode XIX: A Chocolatey Conundrum"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u202f\"Fur-Tunately,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested [insert toxin], this is considered an \u201cORANGE\u201d \u2013 or urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling\u202fASPCA Animal Poison Control\u202fat\u202f888-426-4435\u202ffor help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. If veterinary care is advised, call your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital ahead of your arrival.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Between holiday baking and delicious chocolate-filled gifts \u2013 it’s not hard to figure out why our ER sees an increase in pets with <\/span>chocolate poisoning<\/span><\/a> during the winter months.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Jackson, an 8-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, this wasn\u2019t just a little taste of chocolate. No, Jackson took it upon himself to consume most \u2013 if not ALL \u2013 of an 8 oz. container of unsweetened cocoa powder \u2013 one of the most dangerous forms of chocolate toxicity in pets!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cocoa<\/p>\n

Understanding Chocolate <\/span>Toxicity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cocoa powder is typically used for baking and contains extremely high amounts of methylxanthines (theobromine and <\/span>caffeine<\/span><\/a>), the components of chocolate that are toxic to dogs. Different types of chocolate have different amounts of methylxanthines \u2013 the darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is! That makes baker\u2019s chocolate, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate the most dangerous types of chocolate due to their high levels of methylxanthines.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But chocolate toxicity doesn\u2019t just depend on the type of chocolate \u2013 it also depends on the amount of chocolate eaten and your dog\u2019s weight! View this <\/span>chocolate meter<\/span><\/a> from Pet MD to learn more!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Signs of Chocolate Toxicity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity can vary depending on the amount of <\/span>methylxanthines consumed:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n