I thought chocolate was supposed to increase the heart rate? Although I suppose if the dog has eaten a lot of it and the liver is trying to clear any toxins from it then it could? Erm Im going to go with not sure
My 7 year old niece burst into tears when she dropped a raisin on the floor and my dog scoffed it down. she just wailed and wailed HES GOING TO DIE!! ha oops think i over did the 'do NOT feed the dog choc, raisins and grapes' just a bit!
Don't worry, my father-law-did the same thing when he fed the dog a raisin biscuit and was soundly told off then sworn to secrecy so as I wouldn't find out.
Of course, he was ratted out at the first opportunity.
The same dog also ate a bag of chocolate buttons and lived to tell and my last dog ate an entire Easter basket full of chocolate someone helpfully left inside my back door. It's not a death sentence for a young, healthy dog but I wouldn't recommend experimenting.
BUT anything toxic is going to potentially damage the liver, no matter what effects it has prior to that (given that the animal is still functioning), as it's the body's filtration plant and toxins build up there as the body tries to excrete them, possibly causing damage even if the animal otherwise survives intact. Also, if the liver is already compromised and/or the animal is old/weak/ill/very young an amount that would not drastically affect a robust dog could prove fatal.
Wish someone would get it through Sweep's thick head that chocolate is bad for him - at Christmas he ate my Thorntons advent calender - and as usual (thankfully!) no ill effects! At nearly 12 you would think he would learn....