My dog ate chocolate, is bloated, and straining. What can I do?

Question

Hi! At some point today my 14 lb. dog ingested some Christmas cookies (some of them did contain chocolate). There has been no vomiting and he’s unable to have a successful bowel movement. He generally seems okay but is bloated. He has been drinking water (more than usual). He recently had an inguinal and a perineal hernia repair, so I am concerned about him straining. Is there anything I can do to get it moving out of him? Is activated charcoal an option? Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Male | neutered | 14 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

Oh dear, poor Elliott! Since some of the cookies contained chocolate and he is a tiny little guy, there is a chance that he may be experiencing some of the signs of chocolate toxicity, which does include drinking and urinating more frequently. It is important to try to determine how much chocolate was consumed, as well as the type of chocolate used in the cookies. The severity of chocolate toxicity varies greatly depending upon a dog's body weight, type of chocolate, and volume of chocolate ingested. For example, in a dog Elliott's size, ingesting 1 ounce of semi-sweet chocolate could lead to vomiting and diarrhea, whereas ingesting 2 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate could lead to heart arrhythmias and/or seizures. At this point, since the amount of chocolate consumed is unknown, I would recommend taking Elliott to a veterinarian for monitoring and supportive care. Severe chocolate toxicities can lead to heart problems, seizures, or even death. Chocolate aside, the ingestion of many cookies could lead to gastroenteritis (vomiting and/or diarrhea) in the coming days, or even to pancreatitis. Since the cookie ingestion occurred many hours ago, induction of vomiting is highly unlikely to be effective at this point. I can understand your concerns about Elliott's straining given his recent hernia repairs, but unfortunately, there isn't anything that you can do at home to help this situation. Activated charcoal is unlikely to help with any straining, as it binds to toxins. I hope this helps and that Elliott feels better soon!

My dog ate chocolate, is bloated, and straining. What can I do?

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