chocolate issues....

[Bronx'sBower]

As I posted in my intro we have a 60 lb 6 month old boxer-shepard mix. In the last couple of days he got into the habit of getting on the counters (well standing up and taking off whatever he pleased). My fiance' put half a king size Milky Way at the back of the counter (2 ft wide so it wasn't an easy stretch) but when I went out to get a loaf of bread I came home to find not only the candy bar wrapper on the floor but a fruit roll up wrapper. So he ate half a king sz candy bar and a fruit roll up-including plastic as I couldn't find it. At first I didn't freak out much because as I work for a vet I understand how chocolate affects dogs (meaning types, quantities, weight of dog, ect). I didn't think it was an emergency as it was a small bit of chocolate compared to his body weight. His behaviors haven't changed, his eating hasn't changed nor his drinking; however, fiance's mother came over today and yelled at me saying it could take 4 hours and he could be dead and I was wrong for not taking him immediately to the vet. Was I wrong? Everything passed and he isn't acting sick and never did-just maybe a bit more hyper than usual. She got my nerve because we just lost an 8 month puppy this spring (rare kidney disease). I just want to know if others have had this issue yet and if so what quantities and what were the effects. Again was I wrong? Thank you in advance for any and all advice or comments.

[Lady's Human]

No, you weren't wrong. Lady ate a whole pan of home made brownies when she was about the same size as your pup and there were no ill effects. (Other than Lady being banished from the pantry whole we weren't at home)

There was far more chocolate in the brownies than there was i nthe milky way bar.

[Karen]

A Milky Way bar has much less chocolate in it than many candy bars, and the chocolate that covers the "nougat" is milk chocolate, which has less of the substance that is harmful to dogs than dark chocolate does. As long as you've been watching the dog, and he's acting normally, I'd not worry.

[k9krazee]

No, I don't think you were in the wrong. I agree with Karen, the amount of chocolate on that candy bar was very minimal...and milk chocolate, now, if it was baking chocolate I'd be worried! My 20 pound boy Micki ate a whole chocolate bunny a couple years ago on Easter, we did induce vomiting right away, but he was perfectly fine.

[Bronx'sBower]

Thanks..I thought the same thing but then today he got sick. I think it was the heat because it's been a few days and he has had quite a few bm's. I will monitor him a bit closer the next couple days and if he seems ill I might take him in anyhow just to get him checked out. I just figured I would talk to the vet next week when he gets neutered....I am just trying to be responsible and loving to him-he deserves a chance at a good life. I didn't mention prior but he had been to two humane societies before we got him....all because he has a condition called vagus deformity (sp?), extra bone growth in front paws. But if they would have given him the chance he would have proved his condition doesn't prohibit him from doing, or jumping, anything. We are so grateful he's in our lives, we just don't want anything happening to him...after Bronx it seems we walk on pins and needles.