Emergency Protocol: Qué a Hacer Exactly Cuando Su Dog Eats Chocolate

Discovering un torn chocolate wrapper en el floor es un pet owner's worst nightmare. Chocolate contains theobromine y caffeine — methylxanthines eso, per ASPCA Animal Poison Control y AVMA clinical guidelines, dogs metabolize far más slowly que humans .

Por qué Chocolate Es Toxic a Dogs

Theobromine es el primario toxic compound. Dogs metabolize theobromine con un half-life de ~17.5 hours vs humans en 2-3 hours. Gravedad depends en chocolate tipo (baking chocolate tiene 10× más que milk chocolate), body weight, y amount consumed.

Theobromine content por tipo:

• White chocolate: ~0.25 mg/g — bajo risk
• Milk chocolate: ~1.5-2 mg/g — moderate risk
• Dark chocolate (60-70%): ~5-8 mg/g — alto risk
• Baking chocolate/cocoa: ~14-26 mg/g — EXTREME risk

Emergency Protocol

Paso 1: Assess (2 min)

Gather: chocolate tipo (traer wrapper), estimated amount, dog's weight, time de ingestion, symptoms present.

Paso 2: Calculate Risk

• ≤15 mg/kg: Bajo — monitorear en home
• 15-40 mg/kg: Moderado — llamar vet ahora
• 40-60 mg/kg: Alto — ER immediately
• >60 mg/kg: Crítico — life-threatening emergency

Paso 3: Llamar Poison Control

ASPCA: (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Hacer NO induce vomiting sin professional instruction.

Qué NO a Hacer

• Don't wait para symptoms (puede tomar 6-12 hours a peak)
• Don't dar salt agua
• Don't dar activated charcoal en home (aspiration risk)

References & Veterinary Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Pet Poisoning Clinical Management Guidelines. aspca.org
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Pet Toxicity & Emergency Care Recursos. avma.org
• U.S. Food y Drug Administration (FDA). Animal Health & Veterinary Safety. fda.gov
• Merck Veterinary Manual. merckvetmanual.com
• Pet Poison Helpline. petpoisonhelpline.com