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Any vets currently online?

mrs-b

mrs-b

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Aug 18, 2013
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So I received a box of sugar free chocolates for Christmas. We've had so much junk food over the last 2 weeks, I threw them out. My English setter, Cirrus, just got into them and ate 8 of them. They have NO XYLITOL, but they do have Maltitol. I believe that's not toxic to dogs, tho it will cause diarrhea.

He seems fine currently. Should I take him to the vet?
 
I'm hoping a vet can help but in the meantime I thought I'd pass this along.

There is a poison control hotline for animals (below). I've called it before and I believe the consultation fee was $40 at that time.

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: 888-426-4435
 
Second that recommendation to call Animal Poison Control. Likely what your vet would have you do anyway, as vets are not toxicologists. We found this out when ours accidentally got a double dose of meds.

Hang in there—I’m sure they will sort you out!
 
Also remember that if you use Chewy, you can chat online with a vet. I have used it to good success in the past, but they are limited in the recommendations they can make (like any healthline where they can’t see the patient).
 
I hope Cirrus will be OK @mrs-b . If it's any consolation, a friend of mine came home to find that someone had sent her a box of chocolates, and her dog had grabbed them from the letter box and scoffed the lot! He was absolutely fine.
 
I think chocolate is poisonous to dogs by itself, as a separate issue to sweeteners. Definitely see a vet. A friend’s dog had to have its stomach pumped after eating chocolate.
 
I had a dog that got into a box of candy. Didn't faze her a bit, but with that other ingredient, I join the chorus of call Poison Control. I imagine I've paid a good part of their operating costs - had dogs get into chocolate, bacon grease, aquarium conditioner, aspirin (and mind you, none of these were left where any normal dog would get into them)
 
It's dark chocolate that is more poisonous. Milk (I think it's half an ounce or more when you worry) is not as bad and can just make them a bit sick. Maltitol isn't particularly poisonous to dogs.
I had a lab who would eat everything. He ate chocolate periodically over his lifetime when he could get it. At least twice that I know of. I think we only induced vomiting once and that was because he ate several ounces of baker's chocolate! He was, I think, a year or so old at the time, we called but never had to bring him in. You can also give activated charcoal to absorb any Theobromine. It really is dependent on what kind of chocolate and how much.
 
Not a vet but mum to a very greedy golden retriever who eats just about everything. I think he'll be fine.

Mine eats chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. She's like the crypt keeper at 13.50 yrs old so I give her whatever she wants. She processes everything like a champ. Oddly enough the only thing she cannot process is actual dog food!

Maltitol also occurs naturally do chances are your dog might have run into it naturally before anyway.

Keep us posted but I'm confident he'll be fine!
 
It’s the theobromine in chocolate that is dangerous to dogs. Its toxic severity is a factor of how much the dog weighs and the amount eaten. There are online calculators that estimate toxic doses using those parameters.
If ever in doubt, best to go to the vet.
 
Cirrus is fine - thankfully - and is currently running around the kitchen playing fetch with my godson. :))

We were already aware that the amount of chocolate Cirrus had eaten was way too small to be of any threat to him (2oz of milk chocolate) having taken that particular trip to the emergency vet hospital with various dogs over the years, so that wasn't our worry in this specific incident. But artificial sweeteners can be highly toxic - even in very small amounts - if they're the wrong ones (ie xylitol), and xylitol is sometimes listed (inaccurately) as a generic artificial sweetener and can encompass xylitol, sucralose and maltitol.

So we had to make sure it was, in fact, maltitol in the chocolates, and not xylitol calling itself maltitol, and that took a few calls to ascertain, but we got there in the end.
We also called the animals poison hotline (now $90 per call - and thank you for the tip, @m-cubed - Chewy will be our first port of call next time for sure!) and they said we should be fine, but to keep a close eye on him for the next 48 hours. So 7 adults have been basically staring at my dog and freaking him out for the last 12 hours. But so far, so good.

@springerspaniel - I gave Cirrus some pats for you - then gave Ballin a few to keep things even.

Thank you everyone - he seems fine so far, tho I'll update this thread same time tomorrow. But I *think*...bullet dodged.

And for anyone who considers going down the hydrogen peroxide path to induce vomiting, just be aware that vomiting has to be induced within 2 hours of your dog ingesting whatever it is you want your dog to expel. Longer than that, and you're just making a sick dog, sicker.

Thanks so much for all your comments and concern - it's very much appreciated!
 
I'm so relieved to hear your pup is no worse for wear after his indulgence!
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Glad to hear Cirrus is well! This has been a very good thread for fellow pet owners.
 
I’m so happy to hear Cirrus is okay..

I had a major worry happen with my dog Bailey when he was still here. I was exhausted..It was just before bed..Bailey took meds before bed..as does my son..I used to do them separately but I was so tired..I took out my son’s Abilify..and gave it to Bailey! It was in that split second I realized what I did. I called a local pet hospital who told me to call the poison control hotline. I was crying..frantic..kissing the dog..apologizing to him..while holding on the line to get someone to help me. When they got on the line they refused to tell me what to do until I paid. I had to run to get my credit card. I was so upset. I had to give him peroxide which I fortunately had in the house. I was so mad at them for not telling me this simple solution. The Abilify could have really hurt him and I felt time was wasting. I thought I killed my dog..He promptly vomited but I never did see the pill come up. It’s blue so I felt I should have seen something. I slept with him that night..It was so scary. I must have apologized to that dog a hundred times..He was perfectly fine..TG
 
mrs-b said:
Cirrus is fine - thankfully - and is currently running around the kitchen playing fetch with my godson. :))

We were already aware that the amount of chocolate Cirrus had eaten was way too small to be of any threat to him (2oz of milk chocolate) having taken that particular trip to the emergency vet hospital with various dogs over the years, so that wasn't our worry in this specific incident. But artificial sweeteners can be highly toxic - even in very small amounts - if they're the wrong ones (ie xylitol), and xylitol is sometimes listed (inaccurately) as a generic artificial sweetener and can encompass xylitol, sucralose and maltitol.

So we had to make sure it was, in fact, maltitol in the chocolates, and not xylitol calling itself maltitol, and that took a few calls to ascertain, but we got there in the end.
We also called the animals poison hotline (now $90 per call - and thank you for the tip, @m-cubed - Chewy will be our first port of call next time for sure!) and they said we should be fine, but to keep a close eye on him for the next 48 hours. So 7 adults have been basically staring at my dog and freaking him out for the last 12 hours. But so far, so good.

@springerspaniel - I gave Cirrus some pats for you - then gave Ballin a few to keep things even.

Thank you everyone - he seems fine so far, tho I'll update this thread same time tomorrow. But I *think*...bullet dodged.

And for anyone who considers going down the hydrogen peroxide path to induce vomiting, just be aware that vomiting has to be induced within 2 hours of your dog ingesting whatever it is you want your dog to expel. Longer than that, and you're just making a sick dog, sicker.

Thanks so much for all your comments and concern - it's very much appreciated!
Click to expand...

phew
good to know Cirrus is well

also i must add im very imprressed how you manage to work in lbs
 
Daisys and Diamonds said:
also i must add im very imprressed how you manage to work in lbs
Click to expand...

I also wonder how we drive on the right side of the road instead of the correct side!! Kept having to tell my husband "tight left" and "wide right" when we were in New Zealand.
 
Oh my goodness, late to this thread but relieved to read the happy update @mrs-b and I am sending sweet Cirrus big hugs and lots of love and hope he is A OK !!!
 
mrs-b said:
@springerspaniel - I gave Cirrus some pats for you - then gave Ballin a few to keep things even.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have it any other way! Dogs are the BEST.
Currently driving DH bonkers by writing a paper on metacognitive capability and shared decision making in people with serious mental illness. I am down so deep in the rabbit hole I am likely not going to see light until summer....
 
27 hours have passed and all is well. No issues of any kind and he is eating and drinking normally with no lethargy.

If it had been xylitol, he'd be either dead or in liver failure by now, so - definitely not xylitol.

Ah, Christmas celebrations! What a joy!

@springerspaniel - your paper sounds fascinating. Would love to read it if you're willing to share it when done. Or before that, if you need a proof reader.
 
mrs-b said:
27 hours have passed and all is well. No issues of any kind and he is eating and drinking normally with no lethargy.

If it had been xylitol, he'd be either dead or in liver failure by now, so - definitely not xylitol.

Ah, Christmas celebrations! What a joy!

@springerspaniel - your paper sounds fascinating. Would love to read it if you're willing to share it when done. Or before that, if you need a proof reader.
Click to expand...

Happy news @mrs-b!
 
OMG, glad to hear he's OK!! My goodness, what these pets out us through!!! I had several scares with my former cat before he passed (from a stroke, unrelated to almost poisoning himself which he did a few times) and my dog who likes to eat everything except her dog food
 
Glad Cirrus is doing ok (phew)!
 
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