June 2003 Dog Talk (previous articles)

Chocolate Poisoning If you witness your dog eating chocolate or if it shows any signs of chocolate toxicity (anxiety, pacing, hyperexcitability, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, or seizures) call your veterinarian immediately and tell him or her what type of chocolate your dog ate, how much you think it ate, how long ago it indulged itself, and how much your dog weighs. If you find your dog within a couple of hours of consuming chocolate your veterinarian will either instruct you on how to induce vomiting or ask you to bring your dog to the clinic to have its stomach pumped. If more than a couple of hours have passed the toxin will already be circulating in your dog's system, so your veterinarian will provide supportive therapy (such as intravenous fluids and drugs to control hyperexcitability) while your dog's body works to detoxify itself.

Check back for new Dog Talk columns each month!

Here are links to previous articles:

• Why Must Dogs Chew?

• Parvo

• 10 Reasons to Let Your Dog Play with Other Dogs

• Dental Disease

• Hypothermia and Frostbite

• Walking in the Dark

• Poetry in Motion

• West Nile Virus Update

• Play Aggression

• How Heatproof is Your Dog?

• Pools & Dogs

• Crating No Nos

• Helping Kids Cope

• Special Conditioning

• Signs of Kidney Disease

• Age proofing Checklist

• Sleep Disorders

• Turkey Day Tips

• Fear Biting

• Bloat

• Poison Ivy and Sumac

• Dogs in the Garden

• Skunk Hours

• Airway Aid

• Bathing Tips

• First Aid Kits

• Fall Safety Tips

• Plant Poisoning and Small Animals

• It's Hot, Hot, Hot - Dogs and Summer

• Political Pooches

• Lost Dog Poster

• A Secret To Add 2-6 Years To Your Dog's Life!

• Waiting Room Anxiety