Can a dog eat white chocolate? That is the question my wife and I were asked recently. We live in Utah where chocolate is an everyday treat for our dogs and it has caught our attention because of its delectable flavor and the health benefits. I will start the article saying “White Chocolates can be harmful for your dog“.
As a dog owner myself, I was curious about the question “can a dog eat white chocolate?” The answer lies in the chocolate’s ingredients which are primarily what makes it so special. This article will cover what this popular treat for dogs contains.
Chocolate Contains Flavonoids
White chocolate contains flavonoids, which are a plant compound found in dark chocolate. These flavonoids have been found to have antioxidants, which can protect against the formation of dangerous blood clots and other cardiovascular problems. Other research has shown that flavonoids can also prevent certain types of cancers and possibly slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Flavonoids are also believed to have some anti-diabetic activity.
Another interesting ingredient is the cacao content of the chocolate. Cacao beans are used to give chocolate its bitter taste. The bitterness comes from the presence of tannic acid. Tannic acid is derived from the beans and has a bitter but pleasant taste. Scientists believe that the tannic acid may contribute to the dogs’ desire to seek out their next fix of chocolate. It has also been determined that dogs who eat chocolate are less likely to suffer from dental problems such as mouth and gum infections.
Can Dogs Eat White Chocolate?
White chocolate, like dark and milk chocolates, is not allowed for our four-legged friends. Because all chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs cannot metabolize like humans, it can quickly build up to toxic levels and even cause death. Chocolate also contains caffeine which makes it unsafe to share with Rover.
The darker and more bitter chocolate is, the more dangerous it can be for pets. Baking chocolate and gourmet dark chocolate contain a high concentration of theobromine. Common milk chocolate, however, contains only 44 to 58 mg per ounce. Higher levels of caffeine are also found in dark chocolates.
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Although white chocolate contains significantly less theobromine than dark chocolate, it can still pose a danger to dogs if they eat too much. White chocolate contains 0.25 mg of theobromine for every ounce of chocolate. This is a significant difference from milk and dark chocolate.
Scientists were not sure whether or not the ingestion of chocolate can affect humans, but the consumption of red wines was linked to an increased risk of oral cancer in humans. So, can a dog eat white chocolate? If the dog’s owner has red wine readily available to him, then it would be a good choice. If the dog cannot have red wine, then there are other alternatives to help him achieve his chocolate treat without any harm.
Dangers of White Chocolate for Dogs
But that doesn’t mean that your dog can’t eat white chocolate candy if they happen to grab it and eat it your dog might be in trouble as it might have exceeded to Theobromine level. Theobromine levels in dogs are as low as 20mg/kg.
Dogs who consume more than 40 mg of theobromine can develop cardiac problems. This includes a rapid heart beat, arrhythmias or high blood pressure. Doses of 60 mg or more can cause neurologic symptoms such as tremors and twitching. Although fatal poisonings, which can lead to dangerous conditions such as cardiac arrest, are rare in dogs who consume more than 200mg of theobromine, they can still be fatal. Consuming chocolate is especially dangerous for dogs who are older or have pre-existing medical conditions. Even white chocolate with a lower amount of theobromine may cause heart problems in dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds.
White chocolate’s high sugar content and other ingredients can pose serious health risks for your four-legged friends. Many veterinarians believe that white chocolate’s high sugar and fat content poses the greatest risk to our pets. White chocolate consumption can lead to symptoms in dogs such as vomiting or diarrhea. It can also cause serious conditions such as pancreatitis which is a potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas.
We hope that we answered your question Can a Dog Eat White Chocolate? In simple terms avoid giving White Chocholate to your dog.
