Why Can't Dogs Eat Chocolate: Is It The Caffeine?

I have heard conflicting statements about why a dog cannot eat chocolate. Soem people say iti s the caffeine and others say that it is soemthing else.What is is the real reason?

It is both the caffeine and another, similar chemical called theobromine. Dogs and cats can't digest those as quickly as humans, so the drugs basically drive their nervous systems crazy until the dog recovers or dies.

it is not the Caffeine it is the coco bean so the purer the chocolate the worst like dark chocolate is the worst and milk chocolate is not as bad but can still be harmfull.It will increase their heart rate.

Yes, theobromine is the compound in chocolate that is toxic to dogs. Dosage is key to whether it is a cause for concern for your dog. Here is a site that explains more.

it has poison , high fat content, theobromine, the two different types of stimulants that affect the central nervous system and the heart muscle, as well as increasing the frequency of urination. systems include restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and/or excessive panting. if ur pet isn't treated, he can go into a seizure----- possibly die.

THAT CAN CAUSE THE DOG TO GET SICK AND GET WARM

it's toxic for themthier stomach gets blotted you should check out e-vet interns they had a dog who ate a whole chocolate cake and had its stomach all bloated up put didn't have any of the signs yet of choclate poisioning however they had to pump its stomach so he could throw it all up. its a interesting show on Animal Planet

Chocolate (along with several other foods) has a chemical called theobromine, I am not sure why, but it is fatal to dogs. However, caffine can kill a dog, too because it speeds up their little hearts and will give them a heart attack.

Caffeine will make your dogs heart beat faster the normal and their system can't handle caffeine. It is the caffeine can kill your pet.

Hi Bandicoot,Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is especially dangerous. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death does occur with smaller amounts ingested. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and increased activity. This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate.Look article: http://www.askedweb.com/askedweb/Protecting_your_pet/Jason Homan

It is Poision......

As a general rule, giving dogs chocolate on purpose is NOT a good idea. The problem with chocolate is the theobromine and the caffeine content. Theobromine, if ingested, can cause hyperactivity, vomiting/diarrhea, increase urination, irregular/rapid heartbeat, seizures and tremors. Caffeine content can also cause hyperactivity, rapid heartbeat, tremors and seizures as well. When it comes to chocolate and dogs, here are some helpful guidelines for how much is too much:Milk Chocolate - one ounce per pound of body weight (more is harmful)Semi-Sweet Chocolate - one ounce per 3 pounds of body weightBaker's Chocolate - one ounce per 9 pounds of body weight (this is the most dangerous of all)The other issue I see is the milk you're adding. Dog's do not possess the enzyme that is necessary to digest dairy products. It's not a deadly thing, but you'll suffer some concequences, nonetheless. Fragrant diarrhea (or terrible gas build-up) may very well follow. As many others have mentioned other harmful foods, here is my own laundry list of dangerous foods:- alcohol (duh)- anti-freeze (duh again)- avocado (can be lethal - guacamole too)- broccoli (can cause upset stomach in large quatities)- grapes/raisins (just 6 grapes CAN kill a dog)- raw eggs (Avidin in it can cause major deformations)- fatty foods (can trigger pancreatitis in prone dogs)- liver (can cause vitamin A toxicity)- mistletoe (in larger amounts, generally)- mothballs (duh)- nuts (can cause bladder stones, and many other debilitating conditions)- green potatoes (contain solanum alkoids that can be dangerous)- Plants (like rhododendron, azalea, oleader, rhubarb, cycads, yew, and other houseplants)- nutmeg (can cause seizures and death)- onions (one small onion can contain enough thiosulphate to kill a dog)- salmon (especially raw, can cause salmon poisoning disease that can kill a dog within days)- salt (can trap gas in the intestines and kill a dog)- sugarless candy/gum (xylitol can cause liver damage)- tomatoes (contain atropine, a dangerous substance)- yeast dough (will rise in the stomach and can cause a rupture in the stomach or intestines)- fruit pits/seeds (apple seeds contain arsenic ... so do peach pits)"Also, to respond top some other posts ... milk chocolate CAN kill a dog, it just takes more of it than, say, baker's chocolate. Also, chicken bones can be perfectly fine for a dog, but not cooked chicken bones (when cooked, the bones get brittle and splinter ... raw bones are usually fine, as many dogs on a BARF diet (bones and raw food) eat entire pieces of chicken whole, bones and all). Dogs can absolutely digest human foods ... every meat and vegetable out there was animal food before it was ever human food! Animals have been around longer than humans. It's the cooking/seasoning process that might make some foods not ok for dogs. But many raw or cooked (not seasoned) "human foods" are not only ok for dogs, but are actually very good for them!