Why do people say chocolate is harmful to dogs?

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Packerfan2

I have a toy poodle. He LOVES chocolate. He has opened presents with chocolate in them, he can even open hershey kisses without eating the wrapper. I even give him chocolate ice cream but nothing ever happens. Is it just the type of dog or does chocolate actually do nothing to dogs?

Answer
We've all heard it, "Don't give your dog chocolate it will kill him". We'll how true is it you're probably wondering. Do I have to rush him to an emergency vet if he ate one of my M&M's?

The truth is chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. This is a xanthine compound in the same family of caffeine, and theophylline.

Toxic Levels

The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to cause a toxic reaction. Although there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration.

On average,
Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.
Semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/oz.
Baker's chocolate 390mg/oz.

Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.

So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause great risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.

Clinical Signs

Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. It has a diuretic effect as well. Clinical signs:

Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Increased urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Treatment

There is no specific antidote for this poisoning. And the half life of the toxin is 17.5 hours in dogs. Induce vomiting in the first 1-2 hours if the quantity is unknown. Administering activated charcoal may inhibit absorption of the toxin. An anticonvulsant might be indicated if neurological signs are present and needs to be controlled. Oxygen therapy, intravenous medications, and fluids might be needed to protect the heart.

Milk chocolate will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion. This should be treated symptomatically (fluids, etc..) to prevent dehydration.

If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your Vet immediately! They can help you determine the the proper treatment for your pet.

IN SHORT: Don't feed your dog chocolate if you love him!

NFS Most Wanted - How do you retake rival challenges versing the rivals themselves?

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Jahood

I want to retake rival challenges versing the actual rivals, but I'm not sure how. I don't want to have to restart the whole career again.

Does anyone know how I can do this?

Answer
Once you beat a rival you can't challenge them again, you will have to go through the career again.

But it great fun

To clean wood floors what should I use and what do you recommend?

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Q. Every floor in the house is wood except the laundry room and baths. The floors are very nice but I need to keep them perfect.

Answer
As opposed to carpets, hardwood floors are easy to clean. You can use household products in less time than it usually takes to care for carpeting. Once you know how to care for your hardwood floors, you should be able to keep them sparkling clean for many years. Just follow these steps.

Things You'll Need:
Broom
White vinegar
Mop and bucket

•1
Dust off the hardwood floors. You can use your everyday broom to get the job done. Be sure that all dust and other grime is removed before you proceed. If you feel a broom isn't doing the job, you can even use your vacuum cleaner.

•2
Mix a half a cup of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water. The white vinegar will help make your hardwood floors even cleaner than using just water alone. Make sure the water isn't too hot, as that may damage your floor.

•3
Proceed to mop the floor using a household mop and the vinegar and water mix. Mop the entire hardwood floor area, while paying special attention to any area that appears dirty. Don't soak the floor with water because moisture can harm any hardwood floor. Use just enough water that is needed to mop.

•4
Dry the hardwood floors. You can use a towel or a dry mop. On some surfaces, it might not be necessary to dry after mopping. See if your hardwood floors appear to be drying on their own or if you'll need to dry them yourself.

•5
Repeat weekly to keep your hardwood floors looking their best. Don't mop everyday, as that could do damage to your floors.

How can I paint my ice cream van so children come closer?

How to make a move where this girl works?

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Age

There is this girl at the mall who i want to ask out. She works at an ice cream place and im just unsure on how to make the first move. Any suggestions?

Answer
maybe go buy ice cream more often and talk to her about how you like her earrings and stuff and then after like a month of that ask her if she wants to hang out on her break and talk to her....then ask her out :P

What companies have rebranded or added a new customer type without alienating their original users?

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MGraff9999

Like Harley Davidson, for example. It used to be just the hard core tattooed guys with leather vests. But it's now acceptable for a grandmother and grandson to both drive Harleys, and the original hard-core rider hasn't abandoned the brand.

Answer
Dove Bars. Both Soap and Ice Cream

What is the ice-cream that is made in a cold spinning drum?

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TheCyclist

What do you call the ice cream or what is the method where they make the ice cream slowly by spinning it in a large frozen drum and they use a big over-sized spoon to move it around in the drum. I know the amount of labor is high compared to the amount of ice cream you get out of it.

Answer
All ice cream is made that way - the only difference is how big of a drum you are using.

The over sized spoon you talk about is called the dasher. It keeps the ice cream stirring during freezing to keep it mixed and to incorporate air into the mix as it is frozen. If you didn't keep the mixture moving during freezing - it would turn into a mostly solid mess.

Home units, whether cranked by hand or by motor are just smaller units that big factories use.

Ever see the soft-serve machine at a fast food restaurant? Same principle but the dasher and drum lay on their sides and rotate just the same.