Toxic Chocolate

Normally,  chocolate is a "wonder drug" boosting serotonin levels and improving mood, particularly the dark kind. 

FOR HUMANS!!!

So let's not leave our chocolate on a table that can be easily accessed by an 8 month old puppy lest said puppy EAT IT and have to have her tummy pumped- or the "HOME" remedy of a teaspoon of Hydrogen Peroxide to induce vomiting. 

The toxins in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine.  Their effects are dose dependent.  Pure cocoa  and dark chocolate have much more of these toxins than milk chocolate, which is mostly sugar and milk.  If your pet has eaten dark chocolate, baker's chocolate or pure baking cocoa you may have a toxic problem.  

Naturally I called my vet:  

• If  it has been less than 20 minutes from the time the pet has eaten the chocolate, then make your pet vomit using hydrogen peroxide.  If your pet has consumed a significant amount of chocolate and it has been greater than 20 minutes, call the vet for instructions and possible hospital admittance.
• Measure 1 milliliter (ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of dog weight, using either the syringe or teaspoon. One teaspoon is approximately five ml. The maximum amount of hydrogen peroxide to be given at any one time is 45 ml, even if a dog weighs over 45 pounds.

• Squirt the hydrogen peroxide into the back of the dog’s mouth using the syringe or turkey baster. Since I didn't have either of those, I used one of the disposable pipettes I use to measure essential oils. 
• If vomiting has not occurred within 10, administer a second dose of hydrogen peroxide measured out as described above. If vomiting still does not occur, call your veterinarian or the pet poison control center/hotline back for instructions.
• Once vomiting has occurred, clean up immediately so that the dog doesn't try to eat it. 
• Unless instructed otherwise by your veterinarian or the pet poison control center/hotline, take the dog to a veterinary clinic immediately for evaluation and continued treatment.