Pet Ohana Hawaiian Humane Society

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Cacao beans can be deadly to a dog

Question: I had a package of cacao beans in the pantry. While out, my dog Indigo ate the whole bag. Our veterinarian office is closed. What should I do?

Answer: If it has been an hour or two since ingestion, there's a good chance most of it is still in her stomach. Make her throw up immediately with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) for every 10 pounds of your dog's weight. Administer the dosage with a turkey baster, and tilt her head slightly back while she's sitting up.

Give her access to plenty of fresh water. Offer her some food. Take her for a short, nonstrenuous walk to help her metabolize the chocolate.

Any pet that has ingested chocolate should be seen by a veterinarian immediately and should be monitored closely for a few days, refraining from excitable activity.

It's imperative to protect dogs by making sure coffee and chocolate are inaccessible.

Q: Why is chocolate so dangerous?

A: A milk chocolate bar is dangerous, but a bag of cacao beans can be deadly. The darker the chocolate, the deadlier it is. Our bodies can process theobromine, which is part of the caffeine family. A dog's body struggles to process the substance, and it can remain in its bloodstream for two to three days.

Chocolate increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. Poisoning can lead to convulsions, muscle tremors, seizures, coma and even death.

Q: Is inducing vomiting the answer whenever my dog swallows something dangerous?

A: Never induce a dog to vomit if it has swallowed acid, solvent or heavy-duty cleaner, a petroleum product, tranquilizer, sharp objects or if two or more hours have passed since the poison has been swallowed.