Dogs and chocolate have always had a bit of a complicated relationship. On the one hand, most owners know that chocolate is bad for dogs and can make them sick.
But on the other hand, who can resist giving their furry friend a little taste of what they’re eating themselves?
Especially when it comes to something as delicious as white chocolate. Can dogs have white chocolate, or is it better to steer clear?
Here’s everything you need to know about white chocolate and dogs.
Can Dogs Have White Chocolate? Or It’s Off Limits?
No, they can’t. White chocolate is the type of chocolate that doesn’t contain any cocoa solids. It’s basically just sugar, milk, and cocoa butter. And while this might not sound so bad for dogs, the truth is that it can still be dangerous for dogs.
Dogs’ bodies just don’t process these kinds of foods very well. The high sugar and fat content of cocoa butter can lead to obesity and other health problems, while the milk can cause stomach upset.
However, it is less toxic than dark chocolate because of the lower concentration of theobromine. Theobromine is a toxic compound found in chocolate that can cause a range of symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.
5 Reasons Why We Don’t Recommend Feeding Your Dog White Chocolate
#1 – High In Sugar
White chocolate contains high levels of sugar, which can cause stomach upset and even diabetes in dogs. High-sugar foods are best avoided if you want to give your dog a healthy diet.
Dogs can’t digest sugar properly, and feeding them too much can cause problems like diarrhea or bloating.
#2 – High In Fat
White chocolate contains high levels of cocoa butter, which contains a large amount of saturated fatty acids. These kinds of fats can contribute to obesity if fed regularly, as well as other health problems like pancreatitis.
#3 – Contains Theobromine
As mentioned above, white chocolate contains the compound theobromine, which is also found in dark or semi-sweet chocolates. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even heart problems in dogs.
#4 – Can Cause Tooth Decay
The sugar in white chocolate can stick to your dog’s teeth, which can lead to tooth decay. This is more of a problem for dogs that are more prone to plaque and tartar build-up.
If not cleaned properly, their teeth can become an unhealthy brown color similar to that of coffee.
#5 – Vomiting, Diarrhea & An Increased Heart Rate
Theobromine can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and excessive urination. It can also lead to an irregular heartbeat and interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Your dog may feel warm even if it is cold outside.
Remember, chocolate is toxic to dogs in large enough quantities. If you give your dog a small taste of white chocolate, there shouldn’t be any major problems. But still, think twice before giving them anything more than the occasional lick or nibble!
What Happens If Your Dog Ate White Chocolate – Symptoms Of White Chocolate Poisoning
Feeding your dog white chocolate can lead to many health problems depending on the amount consumed, and even chocolate poisoning. Some of these symptoms include:
Diarrhea
This occurs due to the cocoa butter that is found in white chocolate. The fat content of this ingredient can disrupt your dog’s digestive system and cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and eventually pancreatitis.
Dehydration
Cocoa butter can be difficult for dogs to digest, which leads to vomiting and diarrhea. This causes your pup to lose fluids very quickly, leading to dehydration. If the white chocolate has caffeine in it too, this will speed up the process that dehydrates your dog further.
High Blood Pressure
Theobromine causes the blood vessels to constrict, which leads to a rise in blood pressure. This can lead to a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems that can be fatal. Sugary foods can also lead to increases in blood pressure.
Shaking
If your dog has consumed white chocolate with caffeine, it can appear as though they are experiencing a seizure due to the increased heart rate. Theobromine reduces blood flow to certain parts of the body, which causes seizures.
Panting
Eating too much white chocolate can lead to an increased heart rate in dogs, which can make them feel warm even if it is not hot outside. Panting occurs when dogs try to cool themselves down by opening their mouths and exhaling.
What To Do When Your Dog Eats White Chocolate?
If your dog has eaten white chocolate, there are certain things you should do to make sure they stay safe. Here are 4 things you can do:
Call The Vet Immediately
While most of the time they will be ok, it is best to not take any chances. If the chocolate they have eaten has caffeine in it, they will need to be seen immediately so they can be treated for poisoning.
Make Your Dog Vomit
Even if the chocolate eaten is not a big deal, you should still have them vomit it out. If you know exactly when they ate the white chocolate, make them vomit right away.
This can reduce some of the negative effects on their body. You can do this by mixing 3% hydrogen peroxide in with some water and feeding it to your dog.
Use Activated Charcoal
If your dog starts acting ill, you can use activated charcoal to absorb the theobromine and caffeine in their body. This will reduce some of these toxic effects.
Fluid And Other Treatments
If your dog eats white chocolate, it can experience vomiting and diarrhea. You should give them fluids to prevent dehydration. If the symptoms persist, your vet may need to provide fluid therapy for 48 hours.
Fluids can be given orally or intravenously depending on your dog’s case.
People Also Ask
What Happens If A Dog Eats White Chocolate?
If you feed your dog white chocolate, they may experience some of the symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and elevated blood pressure. Monitor your dog for any of these symptoms and call your vet if they continue.
How Much White Chocolate Can A Dog Eat?
It is best not to give your dog any white chocolate. Even if they only eat a little bit, it can cause them to experience some negative symptoms. Chocolate is high in sugar and fat and should be avoided by dogs.
How Much White Chocolate Kills A Dog?
It is difficult to say how much white chocolate is fatal to dogs. White chocolate has a lower concentration of the toxic ingredients found in dark or milk chocolate. However, even small amounts can cause some negative symptoms. It does however contain Theobromine which can be toxic to dogs.
Conclusion
As the debate rages on, there are plenty of reasons not to give your dog white chocolate. Although not toxic like other types of chocolate, ultimately though, it is just not worth the risk.
It can still be very harmful. If your dog eats white chocolate, make sure to monitor them for any adverse reactions. Although most of the time nothing will happen, you should still keep an eye on them.
Make them vomit if they ate it within the last hour or two and try to keep them cool with ice packs. If symptoms persist or are severe, call your vet immediately.
The taste of white chocolate may be hard for your pup to resist, so look for other ways or treats to give your dog the attention he or she needs.
What are other safe alternatives to white chocolate that you are giving to your dog?
Share with us in the comments below!
