Don’t you just love chocolate? Some people are true chocoholics who can’t get by one day without a bite of chocolate! There are many types of chocolate, including dark, white, milk, and more. And there’s even vegan chocolate! Of course, humans can safely eat vegan chocolate, but what about dogs?
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Has your dog eaten vegan chocolate? Are you worried the vegan chocolate will make him sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s scary when your dog eats something he shouldn’t.
In this article, we’ll take a look at vegan chocolate and whether or not it can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Vegan Chocolate?
Vegan chocolate is simply chocolate that is made without any ingredients that are derived from animals. Just like other forms of chocolate, vegan chocolate comes in different types, including dark, milk, and dark.
What’s more, high-quality vegan chocolate contains only a few natural ingredients. On the ingredient label, you may notice sugar, lecithin, sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa, and vanilla. That’s about it!
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Many humans adore (crave, are addicted to) vegan chocolate. But can dogs also enjoy vegan chocolate?
Vegan Chocolate & Dogs
The answer is no. Vegan chocolate, just like other types of chocolate, is toxic to dogs. Dogs aren’t able to eat chocolate because they’re unable to metabolize a substance called theobromine, which is found in chocolate. Even vegan chocolate contains theobromine.
The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. This means that dark chocolate is especially toxic for dogs. Milk chocolate is only slightly less toxic, while white chocolate is pretty safe for dogs.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten chocolate:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased thirst
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Excessive urination
- Racing heart
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Heart failure
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.
Keep in mind it can take several hours for symptoms to develop. So, even if your dog isn’t showing symptoms, but you know he’s eaten a lot of chocolate, then it’s still best to call the vet right away.
Treatment for Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
At the vet’s, the goal is to decontaminate your dog’s system of chocolate. So, the vet may choose to induce vomiting and give your dog activated charcoal. Along with these treatments, your fur baby may require an IV for fluids and to make it easier to give him medications.
From there, the vet will treat symptoms as they appear. Your canine companion may need to be hospitalized for a day or two before he’s stable. Once he’s stable, the vet will allow your dog to go back home again.
The prognosis is best for dogs who receive prompt medical treatment after eating vegan (or any other type of) chocolate!
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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