Chocolate Poisoning-Dog

Introduction

Toxicity is due to the presence of methylxanthines such as theobromine and caffeine in chocolate. They are also present in stimulant preparations and other products.^[1]

Signalment

Dog that live indoors are more likely to have access to chocolate.^[2]

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

Chocolate poisoning results in CNS, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular signs.^[2]. These signs are observed quite quickly after ingestion of toxic amount of chocolate.^[1]

CNS: hyperexcitability, hyperactivity, ataxia initially can evolve into muscle tremors, clonic seizures and hyperthermia.^[2], ^[1]
Gastrointestinal: diarrhoea, emesis, haematemesis, colic.^[2], ^[1]
Cardiovascular: arrhythmias,infrequently bradycardia but usually tachycardia.^[2], ^[1]

Laboratory Tests

Detection of methylxanthines in bodily fluids such as plasma, urine and stomach contents ^[2].

Pathology

The methylxanthines yield their effects through

Antagonism of Adenosine Receptors:^[1]
Inhibition of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase:^[1]

Treatment

Prognosis

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Emergency and Critical CareSecond Edition,2007 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiple" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Tilley SmithThe 5-Minute Veterinary Consult Canine and Feline (Second Edition), Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content

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[multiples-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Tilley SmithThe 5-Minute Veterinary Consult Canine and Feline (Second Edition), Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "multiples" defined multiple times with different content

[1]

[2]