Theobromine Intoxication in a Red Fox and a European Badger in Sweden

Abstract

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and a European badger (Meles meles) were found dead on a golf-course in October 1997 near Stockholm (Sweden). At necropsy, both animals were obese and the main finding was acute circulatory collapse. Theobromine intoxication was suspected as chocolate waste was available at a nearby farm and no other cause of death could be detected. Gastric contents and samples of liver from both animals were analyzed by reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography for the presence of methylxanthines. Theobromine and caffeine were detected in gastric contents and theobromine was identified in the liver samples from both animals. This appears to be the first report of theobromine intoxication in the red fox and the European badger.

Chocolate ingestion-induced non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in a puppy: a case report

“…In general, no specific pathological lesions are associated with methylxanthine intoxication (Jansson et al 2001;Carson 2006). Apart from gastrointestinal irritation, dilatation of coronary, systemic, and pulmonary vessels can develop that may lead to congestion or haemorrhage (Strachan and Bennett 1994;Stidworthy et al 1997;Jansson et al 2001), seen mainly in agonic stages.…”

“…Apart from gastrointestinal irritation, dilatation of coronary, systemic, and pulmonary vessels can develop that may lead to congestion or haemorrhage (Strachan and Bennett 1994;Stidworthy et al 1997;Jansson et al 2001), seen mainly in agonic stages. Signs of pulmonary congestion and oedema have been traditionally attributed to arrhythmias (Gwaltney-Brant 2001;Jansson et al 2001;Albretsen 2004); however, based on the evidence of the effects of methylxanthines and the pathogenesis of NCPO these conditions might be related.…”

“…Poisoning is not dependent on the amount but rather on the type of ingested chocolate (Luiz and Heseltine 2008). Different concentrations of methylxanthines are present in different products and range from low levels as in white chocolate to cocoa beans which contain the highest levels (Gwaltney-Brant 2001; Jansson et al 2001). The LD 50 of caffeine and theobromine for dogs is 100-500 mg/kg (Albretsen 2004;Carson 2006).…”

“…At a low dose of 20-40 mg/kg mild signs may appear (restlessness, vomiting), from a dose of 40-50 mg/kg cardio-toxic effects can be observed such as rhythm disturbances, seizures might be evident from a dose of about 60 mg/kg, while higher doses than that may be lethal (Stidworthy et al 1997). Though intoxication can also occur in cats and other species (Jansson et al 2001;Smit 2011), dogs are mainly affected because of their appetite for sweet foods, and smaller dogs appear to be more susceptible to intoxication than larger dogs (Albretsen 2004;Kovalkovicova et al 2009). If the ingested chocolate is highly fatty, gastrointestinal signs of intoxication include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal distention, and pancreatitis (Luiz and Heseltine 2008;Smit 2011).…”

“…Increased diuresis and haematuria are reported and can progress to more detrimental cardio-respiratory and neurological signs such as tachycardia, rhythm disturbances, seizures, cyanosis and tachypnoea (Gwaltney-Brant 2001;Albretsen 2004;Carson 2006;Luiz and Heseltine 2008;Smit 2011). Death is caused mainly due to arrhythmias, hyperthermia, respiratory failure, congestion and oedema (Strachan and Bennett 1994;Stidworthy et al 1997;Jansson et al 2001). To our knowledge this complication has not yet been reported in cases of chocolate intoxication; the few cases of pulmonary oedema have been described only as a necropsy finding and not in a clinical patient.…”