Chocolate and liver don’t go together

Chocolate poisoning is a relatively common emergency in the veterinary profession. But why exactly? What risks does my pet run if it ingests chocolate, and how should I react? Here are all the answers to your questions about chocolate.

Why is chocolate toxic for my cat and dog ?

Quite simply because our pets’ livers are unable to break down the theobromine contained in chocolate. This molecule, which is part of the same family as caffeine, is found in varying quantities in chocolate, depending on its cocoa content. The higher the cocoa content of a chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. The percentage of cocoa in the chocolate you eat will therefore determine its toxicity.

What risks does my pet run if it eats chocolate ?

The toxic molecule – theobromine – is known to stimulate the central nervous system and the myocardium – the heart muscle. It also relaxes smooth muscle fibres – particularly in the bronchial tubes – and encourages urine production.

Signs of intoxication appear within 4 to 6 hours of ingestion. Initially, the animal is agitated, with diarrhoea, vomiting, increased urine output, increased temperature and increased heart and respiratory rates. Later, heart rhythm disorders, muscular rigidity, lack of coordination of movements and loss of balance, as well as convulsions, set in. Poisoning can lead to coma and death.

What should I do if my 4-legged friend eats chocolate ?

If your pet ingests chocolate, the first thing to do is to contact your vet as soon as possible. Only symptomatic treatment can be given: there is no antidote to theobromine intoxication.

If the ingestion is recent – less than 2 hours – and symptoms are not yet present, your vet will give your dog or cat an injection to induce vomiting. Your pet will then be given oral activated charcoal.

When should I be concerned ?

It all depends on the amount of chocolate ingested, the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate and your pet’s weight.

For example, just over 20g of dark chocolate can cause symptoms in a 10kg dog.

What about white chocolate ?

White chocolate contains no cocoa. So there’s no risk of theobromine intoxication… but the quantities of sugar and fat contained in these treats could well lead to other disorders