Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound
that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. The signs of sickness may
not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four
hours. Symptoms include Staggering, labored breathing, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase,
arrhythmia, seizures, coma, death.
Cocoa powder
and cooking chocolate are the most toxic
forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter
of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking
chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine
than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health
risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate
icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.
Semi-sweet
chocolate and dark chocolate are the next
most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A
dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be
affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.
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Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.
Pets
affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic
anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its
body. Symptoms include Hemolytic Anemia, labored breathing, liver
damage, vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine.
The poisoning
occurs a few days after the pet has eaten
the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated
onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked
onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial
baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets,
can cause illness.
While garlic
also contains the toxic ingredient
thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would
need to be eaten to cause illness. |
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| Mushroom toxicity does occur in
dogs and it can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten.
Amanita phalloides is the most commonly reported severely toxic species
of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms
include Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting
diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death. |
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As few as a handful of raisins or grapes
can make a dog ill; however, of the 10 cases reported to the ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), each dog ingested between 9 ounces
and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal pain, and lethargy.
Macadamia nuts are
another concern, along with most other kinds of nuts. Their high
phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Dogs
develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of
the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are
distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and
show pain when the limbs are manipulated.
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