The Preventive Vet

Information and advice on pet safety and emergency prevention from an experienced emergency room veterinarian. I may not always tell you what you want to hear, but I will always tell you what you need to know. See the website for more information and advice (www.ThePreventiveVet.com), and don't forget to follow along on Facebook and Twitter too.

Recent Tweets @preventivevet

The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas - Day 8: Chocolate

Who amongst you wouldn’t welcome a nice box of chocolates as a gift this Christmas? Well perhaps not surprisingly, your dog would likely welcome it too. So if you don’t want to spend several hours and a nice chunk of change in the veterinary emergency hospital this Christmas, you’d best be careful that such a tasty gift doesn’t inadvertently wind up in their mouth.

Be aware…

The primary concern with chocolate toxicity in pets arises from a class of compounds called the methylxanthines. If you’ve ever pulled an ‘all-nighter’ in college or if you have a hard time waking up in the morning, you’re likely already acquainted with one member of the methylxanthine class that is present in chocolate - caffeine. The other one, and the one typically of more medical significance in cases of toxicity, is called theobromine.

The methylxanthines can have a wide range of effects in your pet’s body. The ones of primary importance though are hyperstimulation of both the central nervous system (brain) and the heart. For as a result of this stimulation, pets with chocolate toxicity can suffer hyperexcitability, seizures, rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, and even cardiac arrest.

The amount of methylxanthines in chocolate varies significantly with the type of chocolate. The darker the chocolate and the higher the cocoa content, the greater the methylxanthine concentration and the greater the risk it poses to your pets. The amount of chocolate they consume and their weight also have a bearing on the likelihood of your pet suffering untoward effects of chocolate toxicity should they get their paws on some. Check out this cool interactive chart from National Geographic Magazine, it very nicely illustrates the rough estimates of the clinical signs you can expect in cases of chocolate ingestion based on your pet’s weight and the type and amount of chocolate they eat. Recognize though that if your pet has a preexisting heart and/or central nervous system/seizure disorder, they will be even more sensitive to the toxic effects of the methylxanthines, and therefore clinical signs will be seen at even lower quantities of ingestion.

In cases where cardiovascular and/or neurologic signs are present or develop, affected pets will need hospitalization for treatment and monitoring. Amongst other possible interventions, such treatment can include the administration of activated charcoal, intravenous fluid administration, continuous monitoring of their heart rate and rhythm (ECG), and specific treatment for any arrhythmias or seizures that might develop. Depending on how severe your pet’s signs are or become, such care is typically going to cost you anywhere from (roughly) $750-3,000+, but it can be significantly higher too. And its important to keep in mind that chocolate toxicity in pets can be fatal too, even sometimes in spite of treatment.

A secondary problem which often arises in cases of chocolate ingestion is that of ongoing diarrhea and/or vomiting resulting from the pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) engendered by the typically high fat content of chocolate. The signs of pancreatitis can take a few days to manifest and can themselves warrant a prolonged hospital stay for your ‘furbaby’. All the more reason to be proactive in preventing your pet’s access to all things chocolate.

Be prepared…

In the event that your pet gets into chocolate, the best thing you can do is contact your veterinarian or one of the animal-specific poison control centers (click here for contact information) for specific advice. If your pet is already showing signs of toxicity though - such as hyperexcitability, restlessness, seizures, panting, vomiting, or diarrhea - they need to be seen immediately by a veterinarian. Chocolate toxicity can prove fatal, so don’t delay or take a ‘wait and see’ approach.

Be preventive…

Don’t leave chocolate (or chocolate-containing foods) under the tree. Wrapped or not, your pets are sure to sniff them out and help themselves. Advise your friends, family, and other guests of this too, and though he should know better, be sure to mention it to Santa as well (perhaps write it on the note that you’re planning to leave for him next to the milk and cookies.
Be careful what ‘stuffers’ you put in the stockings, and be sure to hang them well out of reach of the pets.
Don’t leave desserts out on low-lying tables or near the edge of countertops. Be sure your guests and children are similarly cautious.
Be careful when doing the holiday baking… from chocolate chips (especially if dark) and chocolate bars to cocoa powder and blocks of chocolate, holiday baking often includes chocolate in quantities that can easily land your pet in the ER.
Make sure your overnight house guests keep their suitcases and other bags off the floor and that they keep the door to their room (and bathroom) securely closed as well. After all, you never really know what overnight guests bring in their suitcase, do you…

Enjoy the holiday season and all the chocolate that comes your way. To keep it out of your pet’s mouth though and avoid an expensive and time-consuming trip to the emergency room…

Be aware, be prepared… be Preventive!™

Here’s a recap of The 12 Pet Hazards of Christmas so far…

Day 7: Light strands and other electric cords

Day 6: Ornaments

Day 5: Lilies

Day 4: Batteries

Day 3: Mistletoe

Day 2: Fruitcake

Day 1: Tinsel

Jason Nicholas, BVetMed(Hons)

The Preventive Vet™

www.ThePreventiveVet.com