Chocolate is obviously delicious…
So it’s no surprise that we humans use it to make our cookies, cakes, candies, and ice cream taste extra yummy…
But I’m sure you’ve heard before that chocolate should never be given to dogs…
Well, this is a very true statement, and if you’re here right now, it’s probably because you’re asking yourself questions like…
What if my dog ate 20 chocolate chip cookies when I wasn’t looking? Do I need to rush him to the hospital? Will he be ok?
These are the types of questions we’ll be answering in this article, and we’ll be doing that by going over the following information…
- Why Is Chocolate Bad For Dogs?
- What Happens When A Dog Eats Chocolate?
- Symptoms Of Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs
- Are The Other Ingredients In Chocolate Chip Cookies Harmful To Dogs?
- What To Do If Your Dog Ate 20 Chocolate Chip Cookies [Step-By-Step Guide]
- Treatment For A Dog Who Ate Chocolate
- How To Ensure That Your Dog Never Eats Chocolate Chip Cookies Again
In the end, you’ll know why the chocolate in chocolate chip cookies is toxic for dogs, and you’ll also know exactly what you should do if your dog ate chocolate chip cookies…
Let’s begin by discussing why chocolate is bad for dogs…
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Why Is Chocolate Bad For Dogs?
Like grapes, chocolate is one of those foods that are toxic for dogs…
And just to be clear, if your dog ate 5, 6, 10, or even 20 chocolate chip cookies, you should contact a vet immediately for guidance…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
You see, chocolate is comprised of two ingredients that are poisonous to dogs, and these two ingredients are theobromine and caffeine…
Both caffeine and theobromine are stimulants, and the problem for dogs is that they can’t metabolize these ingredients as well as humans…
Oftentimes, the amount of these ingredients that you’ll find in chocolate depends on how much cocoa the chocolate contains…
Dark chocolate contains the highest amount of theobromine and caffeine, while Milk chocolate contains a moderate amount of these ingredients. White chocolate contains the least amount.
What Happens When A Dog Eats Chocolate?
When dogs eat chocolate, the ingredients within the chocolate function as stimulants to a dog’s brain and nervous system…
And the reaction that your dog has will usually depend upon the amount of chocolate that your dog swallowed, the type of chocolate, and the size and weight of your dog…
Some dogs may have no reaction at all, especially if they only consumed a small amount of chocolate with low levels of toxic ingredients…
Other dogs experience moderate problems such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting…
Then there are those dogs who, unfortunately, may contend with life-threatening problems, such as cardiac arrest or issues with the brain and nervous system…
These dogs can experience things like seizures and muscle tremors, and they may not be able to survive after ingesting the chocolate…
As I mentioned before, a lot depends on the size of your dog and how much chocolate he or she ingested…
For example, if you have a small dog that consumed a large amount of dark chocolate, then the effects will probably be severe or even life-threatening…
If you have a large dog who consumed a large amount of milk chocolate, on the other hand, then the effects may not be as severe (but keep in mind they still could be)…
The best thing to do is to contact a veterinarian regardless of your dog’s size because the vet will be able to assess the situation best and explain what you should do…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
Symptoms Of Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs…
The effects of chocolate toxicity in dogs can usually be seen within 4 to 6 hours of consumption…
Some of the signs and symptoms that will indicate that your dog has chocolate poisoning include…
- if your dog is vomiting
- if your dog is increasingly thirsty
- if your dog has diarrhea
- if your dog is urinating excessively
- if your dog is panting excessively
- if you dog is restless
- if your dog has a racing heart rate
- if your dog has tremors or seizures
Are The Other Ingredients In Chocolate Chip Cookies Harmful To Dogs?
This short answer is yes, they can be. Obviously, there are a lot of different chocolate chip cookie recipes out there…
So it’s really hard to give specific answers to this question unless the actual recipe is known. But things like eggs and the high amount of fat and sugar that cookies contain, can cause issues for your dog…
That being said, the immediate and biggest concern for your dog is usually going to be the chocolate and avoiding poisoning from it.
My Dog Ate 20 Chocolate Chip Cookies – What Do I Do? [Step-By-Step Guide]…
If your dog ate a large number of chocolate chip cookies, be sure to follow these 3 steps…
Step 1: Remove Any Additional Cookies…
If you’ve discovered that your dog has eaten a large number of chocolate chip cookies, one of the first things you’ll want to do is to prevent further consumption…
Start by removing any other cookies in the area that may be on the floor or on the table or counter, and ensure that your dog can’t get to them when you put them in the trash can…
Step 2: Keep The Packaging Or Recipe…
The next thing to do is to hold onto the packaging of the cookies or have the recipe handy…
This is important because the packaging or recipe will contain valuable information for the veterinarian to assess whether your dog has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate…
The vet will also be able to see what type of chocolate the cookies contained, such as white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate…
And the ingredients list on the packaging might also alert the vet to any other toxic ingredients that your dog may have consumed, such as macadamia nuts or raisins…
Step 3: Contact A Veterinarian…
The next thing to do is to contact a vet. Chocolate poisoning is a potentially life-threatening issue for dogs, and you should consult with a professional to determine the best course of action…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
Depending on the situation, the vet may want you to monitor your dog, try a home remedy like hydrogen peroxide, or just go directly to the animal hospital.
Treatment For A Dog Who Ate Chocolate…
If your dog consumed chocolate chip cookies, there are a variety of treatment options that you can pursue…
One treatment option is to make your dog vomit up the cookies…
This should never be done without the guidance of a veterinarian, but one of the ways you can induce vomiting in your dog is to give hydrogen peroxide orally…
The amount of hydrogen peroxide that you should give your dog will depend on his or her size and weight…
And basically what happens is that the peroxide fizzes in your doggie’s belly and causes them to throw up…
If your dog is already vomiting or having diarrhea, you will not need to give peroxide to induce any further vomiting…
Another treatment you might pursue (with the guidance of a vet) is to administer activated charcoal…
Activated charcoal will bind up the toxins in the chocolate and allow your dog to pass them when he or she uses the bathroom…
If you choose to go this route, it’s important that you wait until your dog stops vomiting to administer the activated charcoal so it will be most effective…
Sometimes, the level of toxicity may be too severe to treat your dog at home, and if that’s the case for your dog, then you’ll need to take a trip to the emergency clinic…
While there, the veterinarian may give your dog an injection to induce vomiting. He or she might also administer fluids through an IV for hydration purposes and to restore electrolytes to your pup…
Your dog may be required to take other medications at the recommendation of the vet, depending on the impact of the chocolate consumption.
How To Ensure That Your Dog Never Eats Chocolate Chip Cookies Again…
It may seem obvious, but one of the ways to ensure that your dog never eats chocolate chip cookies again…
…is to make sure that you never leave them lying around on a coffee table, countertop, or anywhere that your dog could easily access them.
Just try to remember that as soon as you’re done enjoying your cookies, put them away in a container that your dog will never be able to get into…
In addition to that, store your cookies in a place where your dog cannot gain access to them such as high cabinets and shelves…
If you need to store your cookies in a cabinet low to the ground, install child locks so that your dog can’t get into the cabinet…
Aside from storing your cookies safely, it’s also a good idea to train your dog to respond to the basic commands of “Leave it!” or “Drop it!”…
There are many ways you can train your dog to respond, but the most effective method I’ve found is the Brain Training For Dogs program…
I like it because it’s easy to follow, it works, and you can access the program from the comfort of your own home…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you train your dog to be more intelligent and obedient, click the link below…
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Final Thoughts…
If your dog ate a lot of chocolate chip cookies, he or she might be at risk of chocolate poisoning which is obviously a very serious issue…
Just remember to contact a vet as soon as you can, and provide the vet with all the ingredients that were used in the cookies that your dog ate…
From there, the vet will be able to guide you as he or she determines what the best course of action is for the health and safety of your dog.