When it comes to Halloween, the spookiest sight for dog parents might just be that crinkly, colorful bag of candy sitting on the counter. Believe it or not, Halloween marks the busiest week of the year for the Pet Poison Hotline, with calls about pets getting into candy spiking by 12 percent. It’s not surprising when you consider the risks. We all know chocolate can be deadly for dogs, but that’s not the only concern. Many candies are loaded with sugar and fat, which can wreak havoc on your pup’s health. And if you think sugar-free treats are a safe bet, think again: they often contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs, even in tiny amounts.
So, what should you do if you find your pooch with half-chewed chocolate wrappers strewn in their wake? Don’t panic just yet! Here are some steps you can take if your dog eats Halloween candy.
Find out what kind of candy and how much your dog ate
This may seem like a difficult task, given all of the torn up wrappers. However, finding out what candy your dog ate and how much can help determine what care they need. Different chocolates have different levels of theobromine, the chemical in chocolate that is toxic to dogs.
Baking chocolate is the worst for dogs, clocking in at roughly 450 milligrams per ounce, followed by dark chocolate at 160 mg/oz; milk chocolate at 64 mg/oz; and white chocolate at 1 mg/oz.
If your dog consumed close to or more than 20 mg of theobromine per pound of body weight, they are in the poison danger zone. The equation looks like this:
(Amount of chocolate x amount of theobromine for type of chocolate) / weight of dog = toxicity level
So for example, the equation for a 30 pound dog who eats 8 ounces of milk chocolate is:
(8 oz of chocolate x 64 mg per oz. of theobromine) / 30 lbs. of body weight = 17.1 mg per lb. (a dangerously close level to toxicity)
If you’ve calculated that your dog is close to this level, get them to the emergency vet as soon as possible. If your dog is on the lower end — say ten and under — keep a close eye on them for further symptoms.
Even if they just consume a little bit of chocolate, contact your vet to make sure you’re taking the correct steps for your particular dog given their needs.
Know the symptoms
Not to add more spookiness to this story, but your dog may eat some chocolate or other candies out of your sight, and you may not be able to calculate their toxicity level.
Knowing the signs of chocolate or other poisoning in your dog will help you and your vet determine what the best course of action is.
Signs of chocolate ingestion and possibly toxicity include:
- Vomiting
- Panting
- Diarrhea
- Agitation
- Increased thirst
- In severe cases, seizures
Just because your dog didn’t eat chocolate doesn’t mean they’re in the clear
Dogs are indiscriminate when it comes to what type of candy they want to get their noses into.
Large binge-eating sessions of foods high in fat and sugar can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. This is an incredibly painful experience for your pup and can lead to even more complications, such as kidney failure or other organ damage.
Unfortunately, the more severe symptoms of pancreatitis may not show for two to four days after the candy binge.
Keep your eyes peeled for abdominal pain that comes along with a gentle belly rub, vomiting, diarrhea, and a severely decreased appetite if you think Fido has gotten into something super sugary, and contact your vet.
The best measure is preventative
It may be terrifying to think that a little bit of candy can do this much damage to your beloved dog, but it’s reassuring that, most of the time, this can be avoided.
If you’re handing out Halloween candy, keep the bowl up in a high spot where your pup cannot reach it or knock it down. If you have children who are trick-or-treating, be sure to explain to them the seriousness of not giving your dog any candy and keeping it out of the dog’s reach.
Also keep your trash locked up so your pooch can’t dig into a bunch of wrappers, which can also cause severe indigestion.
On days with high candy traffic, be sure to give your pup lots of exercise and a nice meal so they’ll be content instead of curiously sniffing around for some eats. Prevention is key.
As with any dog medical question or potential emergency, be sure to contact your vet with any pet specific questions you may have. Look up the nearest emergency vet in your area and have their number on hand, not only for candy overindulgence, but for any other emergencies that could possibly emerge in the future.
