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NATURAL
PET CARE ARTICLES •
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CARE PRODUCTS •
Dogs
and Chocolate
by David the Dogman
Chocolate
made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive
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to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobtomine
are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and
excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half life
of those compounds in the human body is in the order of 2 to 3
hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours.
In
a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted
via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back
into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through
the animal. This repeats itself a number of times and instead
of getting rid of the substances the dog keeps repoisoning itself.
There
are many formulations of chocolate with varying amounts of caffeine
and theobromine. The lethal dose of sweet milk chocolate for a
dog is 2 oz per kilogram of bodyweight. For a 5 kilogram dog this
would be about 280 grams. A lethal dose of milk chocolate for
a 25 kilogram would be about 1.4 kilograms.
Dark
chocolate is at least 10 times as lethal. A 25 kilograms dog could
die from the methylxanthines in 5 ounces.
Symptoms
include vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity
to touch ( a dog will jump when touched very rapid heartbeat and
rapid breathing rate. A loss of control of leg muscles, muscle
tremor seizures, general weakness, coma and finally death follow.
In
my humble opinion it would be a tragic mistake to encourage a
dog to develop a taste for chocolate. A small dog left alone in
a house with a box of chocolates might well follow his nose to
the goodies and commit suicide by poisoning.
Commitment,
Firmness, but kindness.
Do
you have any problems with your pet? Then why not send your problem
to DAVID THE DOGMAN. David is a Canine Behaviourist who works
and lives in Marbella, Spain.
Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located at: http://www.thedogman.net.
David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for many newspapers
and magazines. David has been working with dogs for many years
and started his career in Israel, working on the Border Police.
He has been involved in all forms of training, including air sea
rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding drugs.
David has devoted the past 10 years to studying behaviour and
the very passive approach. He does not use choke chains, check
chains, or any form of aggression.
David
The Dogman is available for private consultations in your home,
for further details telephone; Tel; (95) 2883388
