Pies: Chocolate is poisonous to dogs because it contains theobromine

Evidence: 59 • authority: 72

Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of Theobroma cacao (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water-soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to some cosmetics. It is found in chocolate and several other foods, including tea (Camellia sinensis), some American hollies (yaupon and guayusa) and the kola nut. It is a white or colourless solid, but commercial samples can appear yellowish. Theobromine, a metabolite of caffeine, is processed in the liver into xanthine and methyluric acid, peaks in the blood 2–3 hours after ingestion due to its fat solubility, and primarily acts by inhibiting adenosine receptors…

Evidence: 59 • authority: 92

Methylxanthine Exposure in the American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) in Florida, USA.. Naturally occurring methylxanthines (MTXs) are plant-derived alkaloids, including caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. Common sources of these compounds are coffee, chocolate, and tea. Methylxanthine toxicosis has been frequently described in domestic dogs and pet birds, but few reports exist for free-ranging wildlife species. From November 2019 through November 2020, we evaluated 24 American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) and one Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) collected from morbidity and mortality events along the Atlantic coast of Florida, USA. Live ibises displayed clinical signs o…

Evidence: — • authority: 38