Valentine’s Day is coming up and many homes will be filled with chocolates and flowers. Most dog owners are aware of the danger of giving chocolate to dogs, but accidents do happen and every year thousands of dogs are still seen at veterinary emergency rooms for chocolate ingestion.

Here are some tips to identify, prevent and treat chocolate toxicity in dogs.

Types of chocolate. In general, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic and dangerous it is to dogs. Baking chocolate and cocoa powder are more dangerous than milk chocolate. This is why products like chocolate cupcakes, cookies, brownies and cakes that contain cocoa powder can be especially dangerous to dogs. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines and is not even considered toxic to dogs, though it does have a high butter fat content and can cause diarrhea, vomiting and possibly lead to pancreatitis. Additionally, the danger of chocolate is also dependent on the size and weight of the dog that ingested it. The smaller the dog, the less chocolate is needed to cause medical problems.

Prevention. While many people are aware of the dangers of these foods, they don’t always think about the different ways and forms dogs may consume them. Most chocolate toxicity ingestions are due to dogs getting into bags or boxes of chocolates. Store your chocolate in high or locked cupboards and never leave it in places that are easily reached by your pup. Be extra careful during festive times where there will be an increased amount of chocolate around the house.

Signs of chocolate toxicity. Clinical signs of chocolate toxicosis usually occur within 6 to 12 hours after ingestion. Initial clinical signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive panting and hyperactivity. Signs can progress to frequent urination, wobbliness, tremors and in some cases seizures.

Treatment. Contact your veterinarian or pet poison hotline as soon as possible. Be prepared to tell them how much your dog approximately weighs and how much and what type of chocolate was ingested. They may have you wait and monitor, induce vomiting at home, or bring your dog in for treatment. Inducing vomiting (up to 6 hours after ingestion) is indicated if the dog has not already started showing any signs such as vomiting or hyperactivity. Never induce vomiting unless told to do so by a veterinarian or veterinary health provider. A veterinarian may administer activated charcoal to prevent reabsorption by the liver, administer intravenous fluids, and give medications to control cardiac symptoms and persistent vomiting

Flowers. Bouquets of flowers are common during Valentine’s Day. Thankfully, roses are not toxic to dogs when ingested, but their thorns can cause punctures to eyes and skin. Bulb plants like amaryllis are more concerning as they can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems if ingested by pets.

For more information on responsible dog ownership, visit the American Kennel Club at www.akc.org.

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