Ever wonder when you are ready to read your favorite book, in the meantime, and enjoy chocolate as a snack in between, when your dog stares at you as if they are eager to grab it? Did it ever occur to your mind why dogs like chocolate? When your dog sniffs a lot around when you are having one. We love to share our food with our pets because we don’t want to eat alone when we have such a cute and innocent face looking up at us, requesting to taste some bites from our meal. But what if that food or snack is a chocolate? Do you still share it with your dog? The answer is no! Dogs like chocolate as much as humans do, but this does not mean they should eat it. In this article, we will know everything about your dog’s chocolate cravings and their side effects.
Why does my dog want chocolate?
The scientific reason why dogs like chocolate is its smell! But how? See, humans have around 5000-10000 taste buds, and dogs have around 1700 taste buds, which means we are primarily dependent on the taste of food, and a dog’s nose is 10000-100000 times more powerful than a human’s in the sense of smell; that’s why they are primarily dependent upon the scent of food. One more reason is that your dog reads your body language and actions. If you are serving those same chocolates to your loved ones and your dog is watching you all enjoying that snack, he might also want one. Chocolates are toxic to dogs. It negatively impacts the dog’s overall health. If your dog eats one, monitor his behavior and symptoms and contact a vet as soon as possible.
Is it okay for a dog to eat chocolate?
No, it’s not OK for a dog to eat chocolate, according to the American Kennel Club. Chocolates are derived from the roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao beans. It has a chemical named theobromine, along with caffeine, which is the main cause of a dog being unwell after consuming chocolate. Theobromine’s slow process in the dog’s system leads to an increase in the theobromine toxicity level in the body. Although theobromine is toxic for humans too, we are 5 times more tolerant of this chemical than dogs. The darker the chocolate is, the more theobromine is present in it. So, if you find your dog has consumed some amount of chocolate, immediately go to the vet’s clinic. They will induce vomiting or purge the chocolate from the dog’s body before it metabolizes other harmful chemical substances to control the situation from getting worse.
What types of chocolates are harmful for dogs?
Yes, we sometimes wonder why dogs like chocolate, but they are completely harmful for them. As we said earlier, the concentration of theobromine depends upon how dark the chocolate is, and theobromine varies from chocolate to chocolate. Below are the general lists of the least to most harmful chocolates for dogs:
- White chocolate – It has the least amount of theobromine in it.
- Milk chocolate– It has slightly more theobromine than white chocolate.
- Semi-sweet or sweet dark chocolate– They are getting more dangerous. Examples of common sweet dark chocolate are Dairy Milk, KitKat, Five Star, etc.
- 4. Unsweetened or Baking Chocolate
- 5. Dry cocoa powder– It is most hazardous for dogs.
Remember, our “no” to chocolates is not only for candy bars, chocolate bars, or heart-shaped small chocolate boxes when it comes to serving them to a dog. Theobromine can be baked into chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cakes, brownies, fudge filling, and other desserts because all these are made from either dry cocoa powder or baking chocolate to achieve creamy and chocolate-loaded tastes.
Symptoms of theobromine poisoning in dogs
The symptoms of theobromine poisoning can take up to 6-12 hours, generally. Your dog might not show any symptoms immediately after gulping the chocolate.
Some common symptoms are:
- Panting
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Arrhythmia
- Excessive thirst
- Seizures
- Tremors
- High blood pressure
- Muscle rigidity
- Coma
- Brain dead
- Collapse
- Heart failure
The symptoms last for no more than 2-3 days with correct treatment. Fatalities are rare, and that too is because of either a large ingestion of chocolates or not getting the right treatment on time. Theobromine interferes with heartbeats, so the dogs with heart disease should never be exposed to the chocolates or chocolate with nuts ever.
What kind of chocolate is OK for dogs?
If you are wondering why dogs like chocolate but still want to give a safe alternative and suppress their cravings, then you must go for chocolates made from carob powder. This is recently the most popular among dog owners, as it has proved to be a great substitute for chocolate for dogs. It is derived from the leguminous evergreen tree, which produces pods that contain sweet, edible pulp seeds. Carob powder is made from those pods only. This content is the real safe and healthy option for dogs, as it is rich in fiber and protein; most importantly, it is free from theobromine and caffeine while tasting similar to chocolate. So, it is not harmful for your pet. There are many chocolate dog food products and dog treats available on the market made of carob powder only. Always read the label before getting one for your furry friend.
What to do when a dog licks chocolate?
If you are still inquiring why dogs like chocolate, and your dog has licked one. First off, don’t panic and stay calm and relaxed, and wash your dog’s mouth with clean water, throw away the exposed item, and watch if your dog has shown any symptoms of rapid breathing, restlessness, vomiting, and drooling because of chocolate poisoning. A small licking is not harmful for your dog until the chocolate is dark. If you suspect the symptoms, call your veterinarian; they will provide the valid treatment, and your dog will be fine again within 2 days.
A canine carob cookie recipe for your pooch at home
The reason why dogs like chocolate is linked to its sweet aroma and taste, and we could achieve that at home with carob cookies for our furry friend.
Ingredients list
• 1/2 cup of carob powder
• 1 cup of rice flour
• 1/4 cup of peanut butter (xylitol-free) (optional)
• 1 egg (optional)
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of water
Cooking directions
• Preheat your oven to 350°C.
• Mix all the ingredients in a clean bowl and knead them into a soft dough. Add more water if you feel the dough is a little dry.
• Sprinkle the flour on a clean counter or on a flat board.
• Make the small different shapes, like a circle, star, rectangle, or heart, with a cookie cutter. Use a jar lid or small drinking glass if you don’t have a cookie cutter, and press down hard to make clear circle-shaped cookies.
• Gently put the cookies on a baking sheet lined with butter paper.
• The last step is to place the baking sheet into the oven for 10-15 minutes.
• Serve carob cookies after cooling them off for your dog as a tasty chocolate treat.
Final words
Understanding why dogs like chocolate helps dog owners to realize it’s actually the sweet smell and taste that attracts them to chocolate, not because it is safe and edible. Remember that real chocolate is toxic for dogs, and you should keep it hidden from them anyway. Your dog is unaware of how unhealthy these chocolates are for them, so it’s your responsibility not to allow your dog even occasional consumption of chocolates or caffeine, no matter how hard they try to grab it from you.
Read about positive reinforcement dog training here.