Soda Springs Animal Clinic

Happy Halloween to you and all your furry friends!  While this time of year is known for treats, we at Soda Springs Animal Clinic hope you won’t allow any of those treats to play tricks on your dogs and cats.  

Chocolate can be deadly in high enough doses due to its theobromine and caffeine content.  The amount of these toxic principals varies greatly based on the type of chocolate, with white chocolate and milk chocolate having far less than dark semisweet, and cocoa powder.  Keeping dogs and cats out of the candy jar can be a challenge, especially with food motivated individuals, but it is important to know the risks if ingestion occurs.

At lower doses, chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea.  Mid-range doses are toxic to the heart, leading to an elevated heart rate and arrhythmias.  At high doses, seizures can occur and death is possible.  For milk chocolates, just 1 ounce per body weight can be lethal to dogs.  

The artificial sweetner xylitol is also contained in many sweet treats and is highly toxic as well.  It is found more and more commonly in types of gum, sugar free candies, certain types of peanut butter, and many other items.  Xylitol causes a massive release of insulin when it hits the bloodstream, causing glucose, the only type of sugar that can feed the brain, to be rapidly sucked into cells away from the brain.  Clinically, this will look like lethargy, weakness, a stumbling, “drunken” walk, seizures, and even coma.

Doses of only 45 mg per pound of body weight can lead to low blood sugar, while higher doses of greater than 227 mg per pound can lead to liver failure.

If either of these substances are consumed by your furry friend, please give Soda Springs Animal Clinic a call.  A doctor is available 24/7 to help take care of those who matter most.