DOCSLIB.ORG

Issue No. 1 | February 2014 ISSN

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Issue No. 1 | February 2014 ISSN Aayvagam an International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research | Volume No. 2 | Issue No. 1 | February 2014 7 ISSN (Online): 2321 – 5259 ISSN (Print): 2321 – 5739 Study on Chocolate Poisoning in a Dog - A Case Report Ramakrishnan, V, Veeraselvam M , Rajathi, S. and Sundaravinayaki, M. Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract A two years old German shepherd male dog was presented at Veterinary Dispensary, South Gate, Madurai with the clinical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, restlessness and hyperactivity. Clinical examination of the dog revealed an elevated temperature of 40.9°C, heart rate of 157 beats /minute (tachycardia) and respiratory rate of 51 breaths /minute. Further, history revealed that animal had consumed excess amount of chocolate four hours ago. Based on the history and clinical observations, animal was treated with Inj.diazepam @ 1.0mg/kg b.wt slow IV , Inj Ringers Lactate @ 10ml/kg b.wt IV , Inj.Metaclopromide @ 0.4mg/kg b.wt IM, Inj.Ranitidine @ 1 mg/ kg b.wt IM along with supportive therapy for three days consequently. Animal had an uneventful recovery. The paper presents the successful treatment of Chocolate Poisoning in German shepherd dog. Key words: German shepherd, Chocolate, Ringers Lactate and Diazepam. Introduction The clinical symptoms observed in the chocolate poisoning are due to presence in the chocolate of theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate is derived from the roasted seeds of the plant Theobroma cacao and its components are the methylxanthine alkaloids theobromine and caffeine. Caffeine is a methylxanthine whose primary biological effect is the competitive antagonism of the adenosine receptor. Normal consumption of caffeine was not associated with risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter. Sympathomimetic effects, due to circulating catecholamines cause the cardiac manifestations of caffeine overdose toxicity, produce tachyarrhythmias such as supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation1. The level of theobromine and caffeine in chocolate varies between the type of chocolate, the brand and the fact that the natural occurrence of these substances in cocoa beans is variable. Dogs metabolise theobromine very slowly - it can stay in dog's bloodstream for up to 20 hours. During that time it interferes with the body's functioning mainly stimulating the central nervous system and affecting the heart and kidneys. This paper describes a case of chocolate poisoning and its successful treatment in a German Shepherd Case History and Observation A two years old German Shepherd male dog was presented at Veterinary Dispensary, South Gate, Madurai with the clinical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, dehydration, restlessness and hyperactivity. Clinical examination of the dog revealed an elevated temperature of 40.9°C, heart rate of 157 beats /minute (tachycardia) and respiratory rate of 51 breaths /minute. Further, history revealed that animal had consumed excess amount of chocolate five hours ago. Based on the history and clinical observations, case was diagnosed as chocolate poisoning. Treatment and Discussion Based on the history and clinical observations, the animal was treated with intravenous infusion of Ringer’s Lactate @ 10ml/kg b.wt IV and Diazepam at the dose rate of 1.0 mg / kg, slow i.v2 Inj.Metaclopromide @ 0.4mg/kg b.wt IM, Inj.Ranitidine @ 1 mg/ kg b.wt IM along with supportive therapy for three days consequently The animal was monitored for next three days for improvement in clinical signs and was kept under i.v. Fluid therapy with Ringer’s Lactate for dehydration. Animal showed improvement following i.v. infusion and completely recovered from toxicity symptoms 72 hours after treatment. The cocoa tree contains two naturally occurring substances - theobromine and caffeine - both of which are toxic to dogs. Cocoa beans contain theobromine a higher concentration than caffeine. The lethal dose for theobromine is between 100mg to 200mg per kg of bodyweight; the lethal dose for caffeine is the same. However, severe symptoms of theobromine poisoning may be evident at much lower doses. The mixtures of theobromine and caffeine have the potential to be developed into a selective, effective and socially acceptable toxicant for the control of pest coyotes3. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, mild signs of poisoning occurs in animals ingesting 20 mg of theobromine and caffeine per kg of bodyweight, severe signs are seen at 40-50 mg/kg, and seizures occur at 60 mg/kg. How a dog reacts to swallowing chocolate will be a function of his size, general health, sensitivity to theobromine and caffeine, and the type and quantity of chocolate eaten. Gartrell and Reid 4 reported chocolate poisoning in Inquisitive wild parrot. Thus the present paper reports the successful treatment of chocolate poisoning . Aayvagam an International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research | Volume No. 2 | Issue No. 1 | February 2014 8 ISSN (Online): 2321 – 5259 ISSN (Print): 2321 – 5739 Reference 1. Patan, S., Marte, F., La Rosa. F.C. And Rocca, R.L. Atrial fibrillation associated with chocolate intake abuse and chronic salbutamol inhalation abuse. Inter. J. of cardiology. (2009). 2. Kahn, C .M. The Merck Veterinary Manual. 9th ed. U.S.A Merk & Co. (2005). 3. Johnston, J.J. Evaluation of Cocoa- and Coffee-Derived ethylxanthines as Toxicants for the Control of Pest Coyotes. J. of Agri. and Food Chem, 53 (10), 4069 4075. (2005). 4. Gartrell, B. D. and Reid, C. Death by chocolate: a fatal problem for an inquisitive wild parrot. New Zealand Vet. J., 55(3):149-51. (2007). .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Full Article-PDF
    Bachu Naveena et al, IJMPR, 2015, 3(1): 948–955 ISSN: 2321-2624 International Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Research Journal Home Page: www.pharmaresearchlibrary.com/ijmpr Review Article Open Access Health Effects and Benefits of Chocolate Bachu Naveena*, Chennuru Madavi latha, Pigilam Sri Chandana, Pamula Nandini, Koppolu Hyndavi Narayana Pharmacy College, Chinthareddypalem, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. A B S T R A C T Its history can be traced back to the ancient peoples of Central and South America. Early civilizations gave a religious significance to their beloved cocoa and their descendants still give offerings of cacao to their gods to this day. Chocolate may even have helped change the course of history. One of the great riches of the New World discovered by the conquistadors, a vein of chocolate runs through many historical events: imperialism and the slave trade, revolutions planned in the coffee houses of 17th-century Europe, the Industrial Revolution and as a welcome boost to the morale of troops in many wars. Today, it is impossible to imagine a world without chocolate. In the words of Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, "caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing. Keywords: Physico-chemical traits, ash values, SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy A R T I C L E I N F O CONTENTS 1. Introduction . 948 2. Benefits of Chocolates. .949 3. Effects of Chocolates. 952 4. Conclusion . .. .. .954 5. References . .954 Article History: Received 15 October 2014, Accepted 10 December 2014, Available Online 10 February 2015 *Corresponding Author Bachu Naveena Narayana Pharmacy College, Chinthareddypalem, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Newsletter of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of Northern California
    Official Newsletter of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of Northern California March/April/May2013 Volume 3 - Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Diane Marsh [email protected] 2013 Club Officers President Francis Marsh Vice President Cindy Heiller, DVM Secretary Debbie Lewis Treasurer Diane Marsh 2013 Directors Silke Alberts Randy Berry Frank Ely Robert Lewis Joan Payton Club Web Site: www.gwpcnc.9f.com Web Master: Kathy Kimberlin [email protected] Informational Web Sites AKC American Kennel Club www.akc.org GWPA German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America www.gwpca.com GWPCNC German Wirehaired Pointer Club of N. California www.gwpcnc.9f.com NAVHDA N. American Versatile Hunting Dog Association www.navhda.org OFA Orthopedic Foundation For Animals www.offa.org VHDF Versatile Hunting Dog Federation www.vhdf.org German Wirehair Alliance - www.wirehairalliance.com (promoting and safeguarding the breed) 1 Welcome New Members: Cliff & Joan Thomas 2 Happy “Belated” Birthday Mildred.... April 17th (thank you Janet Levy for the birthday picture) Submitted by Sharon Jahn Many of our new club members have not had the opportunity of meeting Mildred Revell. I, along with other early members, consider her the “matriarch” of our club, so am including a little history about Mildred’s involvement in the early years of the GWP. Mildred was recognized at the 2006 GWP Nationals Awards Banquet with an Award of Appreciation. The following information is reprinted from the winter 2006 Wire News: “...Her first Wirehair in 1969, an anniversary gift from her hus- band, convinced Mildred that the GWP was the breed for her. Prior to the acquisition of the first Wirehair, CH Weidenhugel Anniversary, Mildred bred German Shorthairs under the Weidenbach prefix, but quickly found she preferred the Wirehairs – and so the Weidenhugel prefix was creat- ed to distinguish the GWPs from the Shorthairs.
    [Show full text]
  • Veterinary Toxicology
    GINTARAS DAUNORAS VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY Lecture notes and classes works Study kit for LUHS Veterinary Faculty Foreign Students LSMU LEIDYBOS NAMAI, KAUNAS 2012 Lietuvos sveikatos moksl ų universitetas Veterinarijos akademija Neužkre čiam ųjų lig ų katedra Gintaras Daunoras VETERINARIN Ė TOKSIKOLOGIJA Paskait ų konspektai ir praktikos darb ų aprašai Mokomoji knyga LSMU Veterinarijos fakulteto užsienio studentams LSMU LEIDYBOS NAMAI, KAUNAS 2012 UDK Dau Apsvarstyta: LSMU VA Veterinarijos fakulteto Neužkre čiam ųjų lig ų katedros pos ėdyje, 2012 m. rugs ėjo 20 d., protokolo Nr. 01 LSMU VA Veterinarijos fakulteto tarybos pos ėdyje, 2012 m. rugs ėjo 28 d., protokolo Nr. 08 Recenzavo: doc. dr. Alius Pockevi čius LSMU VA Užkre čiam ųjų lig ų katedra dr. Aidas Grigonis LSMU VA Neužkre čiam ųjų lig ų katedra CONTENTS Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 7 SECTION I. Lecture notes ………………………………………………………………………. 8 1. GENERAL VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY ……….……………………………………….. 8 1.1. Veterinary toxicology aims and tasks ……………………………………………………... 8 1.2. EC and Lithuanian legal documents for hazardous substances and pollution ……………. 11 1.3. Classification of poisons ……………………………………………………………………. 12 1.4. Chemicals classification and labelling ……………………………………………………… 14 2. Toxicokinetics ………………………………………………………………………...………. 15 2.2. Migration of substances through biological membranes …………………………………… 15 2.3. ADME notion ………………………………………………………………………………. 15 2.4. Possibilities of poisons entering into an animal body and methods of absorption ……… 16 2.5. Poison distribution
    [Show full text]
  • Nutritional Guidelines For
    Publication - September 2008 F.E.D.I.A.F. NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETE AND COMPLEMENTARY PET FOOD FOR CATS AND DOGS SEPTEMBER 2008 FEDIAF – EUROPEAN PET FOOD INDUSTRY FEDERATION / Av. Louise 89 / B-1050 Bruxelles / Tel.: +32 2 536.05.20 / www.fediaf.org 1/78 Publication - September 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Sections Content Page I Glossary Definitions 3 Objectives II Introduction 5 Scope Guidance: 7 - Nutrient recommendations 7 - Energy contents of pet foods 8 - Maximum level of certain substances 8 - Product validation 9 - Repeat analysis 9 - Feeding instructions 9 Tables with nutrient recommendations: 10 Complete pet food - Dogs 11 - Adult III - Guidance - Growth - Recommendations (tables) - Early growth & Reproduction - Substantiation - Cats 15 - Adult - Growth - Reproduction Substantiation: 18 - Scientific literature - Legislation - Other clarifications Introduction IV Complementary pet food 29 Validation procedure V Analytical methods Non-exhaustive list of analytical methods 31 Feeding trials 34 Digestibility & Energy: VI Feeding test protocols - Indicator method 34 - Quantitative collection method 37 Nutrients - Energy 42 - Taurine 44 - Arginine 47 - Vitamins 48 Food allergy 50 VII Annexes Risk of some human foods regularly given to pets 55 - Grapes & raisins 55 - Chocolate 57 - Onions & garlic 60 Product families 64 2/78 Publication - September 2008 The glossary contains definitions of key words used in this Guideline followed by the source of the definition. Whenever appropriate, definitions are adapted to pet food. I. GLOSSARY Allowance An Allowance or Recommendation for daily FNB’94, Harper’90. intake (RDI) is the level of intake of a nutrient or food component that appears to be adequate to meet the known nutritional needs of practically all healthy individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • Anesthesia and Your
    A professional publication for the clients of East Valley Animal Clinic WINTER 2016 East Valley Animal Clinic 5049 Upper 141st Street West Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124 Phone: 952-423-6800 Anesthesia Kathy Ranzinger, DVM Pam Takeuchi, DVM Katie Dudley, DVM and Your Pet Tessa Lundgren, DVM Mary Jo Wagner, DVM Many owners are frightened of the thought of their www.EastValleyAnimalClinic.com pet undergoing anesthesia, either because of a bad experience with another pet, or things they have heard from other pet owners. Many pet owners decline or Find us on Facebook! postpone procedures for their pets because they are afraid something bad will happen while their pet is under anesthesia. The truth is, there is always a risk with anesthesia, for any pet of any age. But thankfully, that risk is often very small. A study by Dr. David Brodbelt and associates looked at over 98,000 pets (dogs, cats and rabbits) and found that in healthy dogs, the risk of death from anesthesia was 0.05% and 0.11% in healthy cats. This very low number is due to several factors, including better anesthetic protocols, sophisticated monitoring and trained professionals overseeing your pet. The first step to ensuring safe anesthesia is a thorough pre-anesthetic examination by your veterinarian. This is performed on every patient undergoing anesthesia. We Happy Valentine’s Day also recommend blood work prior to anesthesia, which can identify underlying from all of us at East Valley Animal disease that may make anesthesia more risky. It may be better to postpone an elective Clinic! While enjoying this delectable procedure until we can determine if an abnormality in blood work is not a concern.
    [Show full text]
  • Death by Chocolate’ Experience
    Vet Times The website for the veterinary profession https://www.vettimes.co.uk Suspected case of Angel’s near ‘death by chocolate’ experience Author : MARTIN ATKINSON Categories : Vets Date : October 20, 2008 MARTIN ATKINSON discusses the toxicity of chocolate to dogs and the history, diagnosis and treatment of a dog presenting with vomiting and diarrhoea Acute chocolate poisoning in dogs is relatively common – following a history of consuming large amounts of milk or dark chocolate. The toxic ingredients are methylxanthines, mainly theobromine and caffeine, which cause an increased release of catecholamines and increased muscle contractility by facilitating cellular entry of calcium and inhibition of sequestration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Benzodiazepine receptors in the brain are competitively antagonised. Toxicity The amount of methylxanthines in chocolate varies depending on the degree of refinement and its formulation. Theobromine is contained in higher quantities than caffeine (three to 10 times) and, in practice, is more toxic, because it is metabolised more slowly in dogs. Raw cocoa beans contain 1.2 per cent theobromine by weight. Far smaller quantities are found in milk chocolate (1.2-1.8g/kg) than in dark chocolate, cocoa powder and bakers’ chocolate, which contain 12-20g/kg. White chocolate contains insignificant amounts. LD50 for theobromine in dogs is around 200mg/kg bodyweight but death may occur at much lower rates. Cardiotoxicity may occur at 40-50mg/kg, while signs of mild toxicity can be seen after the ingestion of as little as 16mg/kg. 1 / 11 Therefore, in practical terms, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of bodyweight (60g per kilo) may be fatal – or a tenth of that amount in cooking chocolate.
    [Show full text]
  • Chocolate & Dogs
    CHOCOLATE & DOGS Chocolate can sicken and even kill dogs, and it is one of the most common causes of canine poison- ing. No amount of chocolate is OK for your dog to consume. Dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate are riskiest; milk and white chocolate pose a much less serious risk. Most of us have heard that choco- late can make dogs sick. But how serious is the risk? What Makes Chocolate Poisonous to Dogs? Chocolate is made from cocoa, and cocoa beans contain caffeine and a related chemical com- pound called theobromine, which is the real dan- ger. The problem is that dogs metabolize theobro- chocolate, 10 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, mine much more slowly than humans. The buzz we and just 2.25 ounces of baking chocolate could get from eating chocolate may last 20 to 40 potentially kill a 22-pound (10kg) dog. Serious toxic minutes, but for dogs it lasts many hours. reactions can occur with ingestion of about 100 to 150 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of body weight. After 17 hours, half of the theobromine a dog has ingested is still in the system. Theobromine is also toxic to cats, but there are very few reported cases Your Dog Ate Chocolate: Now What? of theobromine poisoning in felines because they rarely eat chocolate. Many dogs, on the other RING YOUR VET ASAP hand, will eat just about anything! Even small amounts of chocolate can cause vomiting and After eating a potentially toxic dose of chocolate, diarrhoea in dogs. Truly toxic amounts can induce dogs typically develop diarrhoea and start vomit- hyperactivity, tremors, high blood pressure, a rapid ing.
    [Show full text]
  • Clinical Operating Guidelines
    Clinical Operating Guidelines Version 02012020 Katherine Remick MD Effective February 1st 2020 thru January 31st 2022 or revised Table of Contents Clinical Standards ..................................................................................................................... .Page Attended Patients at Clinic or Alternative Medical Site…………………………………………………………………….CS-1 Atypical Protocol Utilization and Online Medical Direction .................................................................. CS-2 Cancellation or Alteration of Response ................................................................................................. CS-3 Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting ................................................................................................ CS-4 Clinical Event Review ............................................................................................................................. CS-5 Crime Scene ........................................................................................................................................... CS-6 Criteria for Death or Withholding Resuscitation ................................................................................... CS-7 Definition of a Patient ............................................................................................................................ CS-8 Discontinuation of Prehospital Resuscitation ........................................................................................ CS-9 DNR Advanced Directives ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Keeping Your Pets Safe This Summer
    What are the dangers lurking for our animal friends? Keeping your pets safe this summer t’s that time of year again veterinary hospital while in when the weather is college and currently spends a I warming up, the ground is lot of time caring for my thawing, and people and animals (exercising them, animals are emerging from checking for ticks and fleas, their winter hibernation to brushing their teeth, etc.). If enjoy the short months of you’re thinking “This lady is summer outside before it is nuts for doing all that for a time to hibernate all over dog or cat!” you would be By Rianna Malherbe, again. correct – they are my babies! MS, RM (NRCM) Around this time last year, we Blood Sucking discussed the risks Rianna Malherbe is an R&D summertime can pose to Microbiologist and Technical Arthropods Support Specialist at Hardy humans (Risks of Diagnostics. Summertime article from Just as with humans, Microbytes’ June 2014 She earned her Bachelor’s and mosquitos can also bite your Master’s Degrees at Cal Poly State edition). However, did you furry friends. However, the University, San Luis Obispo. Her know there are some strains of virus that cause studies were focused on molecular infections that animals are microbiology and genetics. Dengue Fever and West Nile more prone to in the summer Virus in humans are unable to When she is not assisting as well? If you have an animal infect our animal friends. customers at Hardy Diagnostics, that likes to be outside, you she can be found hiking the hills of Instead, dogs, cats, and ferrets San Luis Obispo County with her may already know about the can get heartworms from husband Ryan and dog Charlie.
    [Show full text]
  • Poisonous and Injurious Plants of the United States: a Bibliography
    Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data 5-2020 Poisonous and Injurious Plants of the United States: A Bibliography James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "Poisonous and Injurious Plants of the United States: A Bibliography" (2020). Botanical Studies. 67. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/67 This Poisonous Plants is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. POISONOUS & INJURIOUS PLANTS OF THE UNITED STATES: A BIBLIOGRAPHY James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, California 23 May 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 • Introduction. 1 2 • General References . 2 3 • Symptoms & Sites . 8 4 • Poisonous Principles (Toxins). 12 5 • Food & Beverage Plants . 17 6 • Plants of Home & Garden . 19 7 • Medicinal Plants . 20 8 • Plants Poisonous to Pets & Horses . 21 9 • Purposeful Uses of Poisonous Plants Arrow and Dart Poisons. 22 Fish Poisons (Piscicides) . 23 Insecticides . 24 Rat Poisons (Raticides) . 25 Snail Poisons (Molluscides) . 25 10 • Plants by Major Group and Family Lycophytes . 26 Ferns. 26 Gymnosperms . 28 Flowering Plants . 30 11 • Plants by Region & State. 82 12 • Plants by Common & Scientific Names . 88 13 • Plants by Genus and Family .
    [Show full text]
  • Chocolate Poisoning
    Chocolate Poisoning Chocolate poisoning in dogs The cause of the poisoning is theobromine, found in the cocoa solids from which chocolate is made, as well as in cocoa powder, cocoa beans and more recently some garden mulches. As little as 100mg theobromine per kg of your pet dog can be fatal. To give you a rough idea how much of various cocoa products could be fatal to two common breeds look at the examples below. The figures are approximate, based on a standard breed weight, and a standard amount of cocoa solids in the chocolate products, but even as a first approximation, make startling reading: A Jack Russel Terrier would need to eat 55kg of White Chocolate, 227g of Milk Chocolate, 32g of Plain Dark Chocolate and only 17g of Cocoa shell mulches! A Labrador would need to eat 277kg of White Chocolate, 1.1kg of Milk Chocolate, 156g of Plain Dark Chocolate and only 83g of Cocoa shell mulches! Fortunately we don’t see too many cases of chocolate poisoning, but the problem arises since the symptoms which it produces mimic so many other things and don’t occur for at least 4 – 24 hours after ingestion. Typically, we see vomiting, including blood, excessive drinking, hyperactivity, panting, inco- ordination and a racing heart. In severe cases these signs may be accompanied by muscle rigidity, fever, seizures and heart arrhythmias, and may ultimately lead to kidney or heart failure and death. In most cases it is best to make the dog vomit as soon as possible. Most poisons take a few hours to be fully absorbed from the stomach so inducing vomiting is useful up to 2 hours after ingestion.
    [Show full text]
  • Holiday Safety for Pets
    Holiday Safety for Pets While you are trimming your tree and hanging your mistletoe this holiday season, remember that there are some aspects of the holidays that can be hazardous to our pets. Here are a few hazards to avoid: Christmas trees pose many dangers to pets. • Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers and bacteria. If ingested it could cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in your pet. • Decorations such as ribbons are very attractive to pets, especially cats, and if ingested can cause intestinal obstruction. • Sparkly lights are equally attractive, but can become life threatening if your pet decides to chew the cords. • Ensure any tinsel, ribbons, ornaments and ornament hooks that fall to the floor are picked up immediately • Secure your tree so that it can’t be toppled or knocked over. Mistletoe Popular during the holidays, mistletoe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behaviour, hallucinations and death in pets. Poinsettia This beautiful holiday plant can cause irritation to the mouth, stomach and vomiting. Macadamia Nuts Although the toxic principle of macadamia nuts is unknown, they are dangerous food for dogs. Ingesting macadamia nuts can cause depression, hyperthermia, weakness, muscular stiffness, vomiting, tremors and increased heart rate. Holly Commonly used for decorating during the holiday season, holly can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression. Chocolate Dogs and chocolate are a dangerous combination. Chocolate and any chocolate-related products are very dangerous for dogs. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. Both caffeine and theobromine are nervous system stimulants. Since dogs metabolize theobromine more slowly than humans, they are highly susceptible to theobromine poisoning.
    [Show full text]