Pet Tales: Candy for dogs? It's more trick than treat
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Make-believe Halloween ghosts and goblins are fun. Dogs that gobble large amounts of chocolate and other candies, not so much.
Never underestimate a dog's ability to find hidden holiday treasures.
One family was horrified last year when they came home and found four empty bags that had contained 10 pounds of chocolate Halloween candy. Near the empty bags was a very sick puppy -- Thor, their 95-pound, 8-month-old Great Dane.
The family members called the Pet Poison Helpline, and veterinary toxicologists talked them through the crisis. Actually, Thor vomited while they were talking on the helpline, and the telephone vet advised that Thor didn't need to be hospitalized. He made a full recovery.
Calls about dogs eating chocolate increased by 209 percent during Halloween week last year, said Ahna Brutlag, a veterinary toxicologist and assistant director of veterinary services.
Chocolate CAN kill dogs and cats, though it usually doesn't if you get quick veterinary intervention.
"It partly depends on the amount," she said. "A couple of M&M's usually won't hurt them."
The darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is to a pet, she said, because darker chocolate has more methylxanthines. baker's chocolate is the worst, followed by semi-sweet dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
Just 2 to 3 ounces of baker's chocolate can make a 50-pound dog very sick. It can take up to a pound of milk chocolate to cause poisoning in a 50-pound dog.
Ms. Brutlag advises that even if your dog or cat isn't exhibiting symptoms, you should call a hotline or your own veterinarian, if you know or suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, gum or large amounts of any candy.
Here are symptoms of chocolate poisoning: vomiting, drooling, shivering, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, elevated heart rate or seizures.
Do not induce vomiting without talking to a veterinarian or a hotline, Ms. Brutlag said. Sometimes inducing vomiting can cause worse problems, especially for pugs and other short-nosed dogs that are at high risk of aspirating vomit into their lungs.
First Published October 22, 2011 12:00 am
