What to do if my dog eats a Hershey kiss?
You should never intentionally give your dog a Hershey kiss. If they get one in some way, or if they have eaten several, contact a veterinarian or dog poison hotline as soon as possible. Tell them the breed and size of your dog, and how much and what kind of chocolate was eaten. With that, a veterinarian can give you some directions as far as what to do.
If your dog ate only one Hershey Kiss, your vet may tell you to watch the dog for symptoms. You may need to walk the dog more to encourage urination, which will help flush the poison out of the dog’s system. Also, watch for vomiting and diarrhea, which often happen when dogs eat chocolate. If the dog had only one or two, there will be smaller repercussions.
If it ate a lot though, you may need to take your dog to the vet, or to an emergency animal clinic. Vomiting may be induced to help remove the poisonous material. Doctors may start using intravenous fluids to help flush out the poison. The dog may also be given activated charcoal that will help absorb the poison. If it is not a serious case, you may be advised to take the dog for a lot of short walks to encourage urination.
If your dog ate a whole bag of Hershey Kisses, your dog may need more extensive treatment. Milk chocolate is the least harmful chocolate, but it can add up and eventually be just as dangerous as dark chocolate.
How much Hershey chocolate is too much for a dog?
All veterinarians would say that any chocolate at all is too much for dogs. They should never eat it because it is toxic to them. While a single Hershey Kiss may not have any noticeable effect on a big dog, it is still very bad for them and still causes problems. Over the long term, chocolate can cause a lot of serious health issues and will shorten the life of your dog.
Hershey kisses do not have a lot of theobromine, so one is not likely to hurt your pet. Several of them could cause serious harm, and even a small amount over time will have bad health consequences for your dog.
In general, 10mgs of theobromine per pound of dog will cause symptoms to start. Twice that much will cause severe symptoms.
A handful (1.4 ounces) of Hershey kisses has about 65 mg of theobromine. That would not be fatal for any dog. It could be enough to make a small dog sick and upset the stomach of a middle-sized dog. Most milk chocolate-type candy bars fall into this area of danger for a dog. A Reeces Peanut Butter Cup, for instance, has 50mg of theobromine.
Keep in mind that the theobromine is essentially doubled once inside your dog because of how it is absorbed by the bladder. This means the 65 mg in 1.4 ounces of Hershey kisses is like 2.8 ounces after it is eaten. Theobromine also stays in the bloodstream for a long time for dogs. If they had a little every day or two, that would add up to where they would have a lot of the chemical in their body over several days.
While milk chocolate is the least harmful to your pet, it is still harmful. There are studies that have shown long term consumption of even small amounts of theobromine can cause serious heart problems. Milk chocolate usually has less than 100 mg of theobromine.
What Are the Signs of Chocolate Poisoning?
Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours after your dog has eaten it. Older dogs and dogs with heart conditions are more at risk of sudden death from chocolate poisoning. The symptoms, which may last up to 72 hours, include the following:
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate (Home Remedies)
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and depending on the type and amount of chocolate consumed and the weight of your dog, it could cause a serious medical emergency. If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, it’s important to monitor them for signs of toxicity. Learn how much is too much, which types of chocolate are the most dangerous, and what signs to look for that may signal your dog needs treatment.