What to Do if Your Dog Eats Halloween Candy

If you think zombies are scary, they’ve got nothing on a night spent with a pooch sick on Halloween candy. Certain candies, such as chocolates, can be dangerous or deadly, even in small amounts. What should you do when you discover your dog has decimated your kid’s candy stash?

Put on Your Ace Ventura Costume

We know this may seem impossible, but try to uncover exactly what your dog ate by eyeballing the empty wrapper fallout. If your kid is a candy hoarder, they may also be able to give you a rundown of what’s missing. Different candies have different levels of toxicity. Chocolate, a common candy culprit, is one of the worst. The larger the cacao amount, the greater the risk.

·         1 oz dark chocolate = 200mg theobromine

·         1 oz milk chocolate = 60mg theobromine

Grab a Calculator

Do a little math.

·         Chocolate Amount x Theobromine Content / Body Weight = Toxicity Level

If your canine chomped down more than 20mg of theobromine per pound of bodyweight, it’s time to visit the emergency vet for potential poisoning. Even if toxicity levels have not been reached, a visit to your local vet may be wise.

Pet at Low or Borderline Theobromine Levels? Watch for Symptoms

If your pet is in the low or borderline toxicity range, or you have no clue how much candy to calculate, watch for symptoms of poisoning, including:

·         Restlessness/agitation

·         Panting

·         Increased thirst

·         Vomiting/diarrhea

·         Seizures

Dog Didn’t Eat Chocolate? You’re Not Out of the Woods

If your pooch perused the selection of candy for other high fat, high sugar choices, they might not suffer theobromine toxicity. They may, however, suffer pancreatitis, kidney failure, or other organ damage. Be on the lookout for abdominal pain and tenderness that becomes apparent with a gentle belly rub, accompanied by vomiting/diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Contact a vet if these symptoms show 2-4 days post-candy-binge.

Prevention is Key

For future holidays, be extra careful with candy. Store it in a canister out of reach of your pooch, and lock down the trash (wrappers and leftovers are likewise dangerous). If you have kids, warn them of the dangers of candy to their four-legged family members, explaining the importance of keeping these items out of reach.

Halloween candy shenanigans have you thinking it’s time for a bit of obedience training? Check out our winter/spring training schedule and learn more about DoGone Fun’s affordable dog training classes today.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/what-to-do-if-your-dog-eats-halloween-candy