Monarch – Blog

Hello!

My name is Tori Stotts, and I am the CEO of Monarch Pomskies! I own our beautiful dames, Mia and Val! They are our original Pomskies that started off Monarch Pomskies. I made this blog to hopefully help people navigate this amazing breed! I will be sharing tips, tricks, fun updates, pictures and much more!!

I hope you choose to come along for the ride!

Hi!

We are Mia and Val! We are super excited you are here! Our mom has a lot of cool things to share!! Come back to see the updates!!

MONARCH MIA WANTS YOU TO KEEP THE CHOCOLATE HIGH UP AND TUCKED AWAY FROM PETS!!

OH NO!! CHOCOLATE!!

As we jump into spring, we come across holidays that very frequently have chocolate associated with them. Whether that is boxes of chocolate kisses for Valentine’s day or chocolate bunnies for Easter. I urge you to store your chocolate high up and away from your pets. You should also know the health risks of pets getting into chocolate just in case. Better safe than sorry I like to say. So let’s get into some facts!

Cornells Canine Health Center states that one of the most common toxicities in dogs is caused by chocolate ingestion. This is because dogs cannot metabolize chocolate in the same way people can.

CAUSE –

Two toxic components to dogs found in chocolate are caffeine and theobromine, which cause stimulation of the central nervous system and heart. It also can quickly lead to dehydration. Pets may also be at risk for developing gastrointestinal distress like diarrhea because many chocolate products are high in fat and sugar.

Although, the amount of theobromine and caffeine in a chocolate product varies, but generally, the darker the chocolate, the higher the risk to dogs. Generally the higher the cocoa powder content the more toxic it is. For this reason, even ingesting small amounts, especially in a smaller dog, should be treated as an emergency.

CLINICAL SIGNS –

The clinical signs vary based on the amount of chocolate ingested and the dog’s size but may occur within 2-12 hours after ingestion. You should look out for these signs of chocolate toxicity:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Restlessness
  • Fast breathing
  • Increased heart rate or irregular heart rhythm
  • Hyperexcitability
  • Tremors
  • Incoordination
  • Seizures
  • Fever
  • Coma

TREATMENT –

Treatment for chocolate toxicity may include any of the following:

  • Induced vomiting
  • Administering oral activated charcoal
  • Antinausea medications and GI protectants
  • IV fluids
  • Medications to stop tremors
  • Medications to prevent irregular heart rhythms
  • Medication to stop seizures
  • Urinary catheterization or frequent walking to encourage urination

OUTCOME –

The outcome of chocolate toxicity depends on the amount and type ingested. Delaying treatment when a dog eats chocolate can worsen the clinical signs and prognosis. Dogs with mild signs or those that ingested small amounts generally have a good prognosis with treatment. The outcome is less favorable for dogs with severe clinical signs like seizures or collapse.

With all that being said, I deeply urge you to keep chocolate away from your pets! Even a little bit of chocolate can be deadly to your fur babies. If they eat any chocolate, contact your vet as soon as possible.

Enjoy your chocolate, but only when it is stored high and away from your pets!!