Never give a dog cocoa. Defining and explaining the dangers of it
Many people might want to drink hot Cocoa when it’s cold outside. When people drink Cocoa, the sweet smell often attracts dogs.
But Cocoa has parts that are dangerous for dogs and can even kill them in some cases. This article discusses the problems dogs can have after eating Cocoa.
Why Cocoa is dangerous for dogs
theobromine
Cocoa is mostly made from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans contain theobromine, an ingredient that makes dogs want to eat more and more of it.
The result can be chocolate poisoning in dogs. Poisoning can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in some people, agitation and depression in others, and in the worst cases, it can cause convulsions and death.
caffeine
Caffeine is one of the psychostimulants and has a stimulating effect. It also lowers fever, eases pain, and makes you pee.
When a dog eats caffeine, it goes straight to the heart muscle and central nervous system, making them work harder.
Cocoa vs chocolate for dogs: what’s the difference?
How is chocolate different from Cocoa? Which dogs shouldn’t eat? The raw materials are cacao beans, and the chocolate-making process is the same until about halfway through.
The difference is whether or not cocoa butter is added. When cocoa beans go through steps like roasting and pressing, they become cocoa mass.
Cocoa is made by taking cocoa butter out of cocoa mass. Chocolate is made by adding cocoa mass to cocoa butter.
Cacao has theobromine and caffeine, so eating it is just as bad as eating chocolate. Also, cocoa powder is finely crushed Cocoa.
It is even more dangerous than Cocoa because it has no water. They are also dangerous since cocoa powder makes sweets like cocoa cookies.
Does Cocoa have what amount of theobromine that makes dogs sick?
Cacao contains more theobromine than other foods. Cocoa is more dangerous than chocolate because it has more cocoa polyphenols than chocolate. Content of theobromine
(10g) cocoa powder: 210mg
Bitter chocolate with 70–85% cocoa (10g): 80mg
Bitter chocolate with 45–59% cocoa (10g): 50mg
20–25mg per 10g of milk chocolate
Even if you accidentally eat a small amount, you will still get a lot of theobromines. Please check your health often and go to the hospital.
Theobromine content
- About 60mg of chocolate bar per sheet
- About 132–180mg of milk chocolate is in one piece.
- One piece of bitter chocolate is about 360–660mg.
Based on this, the following is a good amount to feed a dog, depending on its size.
Small dogs (5kg)
One piece of milk chocolate.
A bit more than 3/4 of a sheet of bitter chocolate.
Dogs of this size (15 kg)
About six pieces of milk chocolate.
- Bitter chocolate — about two pieces
Big dogs (30 kg)
- About 11 pieces of milk chocolate
About six pieces of bitter chocolate.
You might think that the amount that is not dangerous is a big surprise.
The effects vary for each individual, so even a small amount can have serious side effects. Don’t think, “Maybe it’s okay if it’s just a little,” and make sure it doesn’t eat it.
If your dog drinks Cocoa, what should you do?
No one can stop doing this. So, steps must be taken to get you to throw up immediately. Could you not do it yourself?
Instead, talk to a vet and make yourself throw up. If it’s late and you can’t get to a vet, try to stay calm and give first aid.
How to administer first aid
Table salt should be used.
They are given salt to eat and told to drink a lot of water. But if you eat too much, you could get salt poisoning and die, so don’t give them a lot just because they don’t throw up.
About 15 g of salt is about one large spoonful; for a dog that weighs about 3 kg, 1/3 of this amount could kill it.
Use oxide (hydrogen peroxide solution)
Drink oxide mixed with water (1 part oxidol to 9 parts water) to make your stomach produce oxygen and make you throw up. 5 cc per kg of body weight is the standard.
Make sure to grab your chin and point it up.
Make sure you are swallowing by pouring liquid into your mouth little by little with a cylinder or dropper-shaped object.
If there is a lot of liquid, it could get into the trachea and cause choking. If you use this method, the gastric mucosa could bleed, or an ulcer could form, so be aware that it is a risky method.
Even if you have done first aid, see a vet as soon as possible and tell them what you did.
If it’s hard to throw up after a long time or if a person has eaten or drunk more than the lethal amount, they need gastric lavage and other measures immediately.
Small amounts of food can cause symptoms between 6 and 12 hours later. Please pay close attention to your dog.
Cocoa should not be accidentally swallowed by dogs or their owners.
The most common cause of accidental ingestion is that there is Cocoa on a shelf or table, and the dog has drunk it.
Also, the dog picked up something that someone dropped during a walk and ate it.
Steps to stop something
Cocoa should be kept in the fridge.
Train your dog not to pick up and eat things.
Also, my dog often flies out of nowhere while eating a snack, a common sight in our house. He sends a beam of light with his dark eyes.
Every time, I give in and give it something from a human.
But if this has cocoa powder, it will be a big problem. Try not to give dogs as many treats made by people as you can, or make sure they don’t have Cocoa in them.
Don’t let your guard down! Ingredients containing theobromine
- Cola Chocolate Cocoa Green Tea (including white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, etc.)
Summary
The reason is that it has theobromine and caffeine, which are hard to stop using.
Cocoa with many cocoa polyphenols is worse for you than chocolate.
Some dogs may like to eat Cocoa when they drink it. This is because many dogs like sweets.
But cocoa beans, the most important part of Cocoa, also have parts that can kill dogs in the worst case. First, let’s ensure your dog doesn’t eat Cocoa by accident by not putting it where he can get to it.
Also read coffee, Nutella, green tea
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe for dogs to eat cocoa powder in a cake?
Short answer: no. Many things in chocolate cake are bad for dogs, like cocoa powder and sugar.
Is cocoa powder safe for dogs?
Don’t give your dog chocolate, cocoa powder, or mixes for making hot cocoa. Conversely, carob is a safe and tasty alternative to cocoa for people and dogs.
Is cocoa harmful to dogs?
Chocolate is bad for dogs, yes. Even though it rarely kills, eating chocolate can make you very sick. It isn’t good for you because chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine.
Can dogs eat ice cream?
It’s best not to give ice cream to your dog. Even though dairy isn’t poisonous or dangerous, it’s hard for dogs to digest because, after they stop nursing as puppies, they lose the enzyme they need to break down the lactose in milk.
Do dogs eat Oreos?
If your dog ate just one Oreo, she’s probably fine. However, it would be helpful if you did not give your dog Oreos.
Dogs can’t eat chocolate, but there isn’t enough baking chocolate in an Oreo to make you worry immediately.
Still, it would help if you didn’t give your dog anything with even a small amount of something toxic.
Do dogs get to eat chocolate?
Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs
In chocolate, two chemicals called theobromine and caffeine can be harmful to dogs. Dogs can’t break down caffeine and theobromine as well as we can. If your dog eats enough chocolate and theobromine, it could get sick.
Can my dog eat brownies?
Chocolate is especially bad for dogs because it has methylxanthines like caffeine and theobromine, which dogs can’t break down as we can. You could become ill or even die if you consume too much chocolate. If your dog ate brownies, you should call your vet right away.
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