My small dog ate chocolate truffles. Why is she breathing rapidly?

The signs you are describing do sounds like a toxicity. Chocolate toxicity depends on the size of the dog, amount of chocolate consumed, and the type of chocolate, with dark chocolate being more toxic. I recommend keeping a close eye on Peyton if she is calming down, but she should be seen by a vet if you are concerned that she is not acting like herself or if she develops tremors, seizures, or vomiting. I hope all is well!

A 40 pound husky would need to ingest quite a bit more chocolate to cause signs of toxicity, and you would see signs of toxicity no more than 12 hours after ingestion. I’d be worried that Suka’s panting and elevated heart rate could be unrelated. Panting can be a sign of pain or anxiety and if it continues you may want to see your veterinarian.

Hello. I do not think this small amount of chocolate will harm Twix. It would take at least 4-6 ounces before clinical signs would be apparent in this large a dog. If this was only a tablespoon or so, he will be fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's difficult to know how much the actual cocoa content is in this, but my estimate is that it would be at-most enough to cause a moderate to severe reaction. Rosie is already showing signs of a mild reaction, which is hyperactivity. Further signs of toxicity can be vomiting, tremors and seizures. If you notice any of these signs, then it's best to take Rosie to a vet for treatment/monitoring, because chocolate toxicity can be deadly. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done at home for this. It's best to make sure she has plenty of water and that you check her every two hours for any further signs of toxicity. If she is better within 12 hours, then I would not worry about any further signs of toxicity. I hope that helps and Rosie gets through this fine.

You can expect mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea or decreased appetite). The amount is not enough to cause serious toxicity in a 15lb dog, but you should still monitor for tremors, increased heart rate, hyperactivity or seizures. Minor GI upset can usually be managed at home with a 24 hour fast followed by a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Ideally, Mojito should be examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. Either can induce vomiting if the ingestion has happened in the last two hours, then administer activated charcoal to further inhibit absorption.

Most dogs will not have any clinical signs with milk chocolate until it reaches about a little more than an oz per 10 pounds. So, even if the milk chocolate truffle was 4oz, she should still be OK. Of course, the darker the chocolate the less they can tolerate. I would not induce vomiting at this small amount of consumption. I hope this eases your mind. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, I think she needs to be admitted to the hospital for treatment with antiarrythmic medicatiions and anything else depending on how she is when she gets there. She will likely need to have activated charcoal. I hope you can have her rechecked soon as I have had bad experiences with chocolate toxicities t=in dogs with such a high heart rate. Sending positive thoughts !