By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Cherry Ripe is one of Australia's best known chocolate bars, and it turns up everywhere from lunchboxes to Easter baskets to the bowl of fun size bars at the office. For dogs it is not a harmless treat. The bar is coated in dark chocolate, which contains theobromine and caffeine, and the coconut and cherry filling is rich and sugary. Whether a stolen bar causes trouble depends on your dog's size and how much was eaten, but it should always prompt a call to your vet.
Key takeaways
- Cherry Ripe's dark chocolate coating contains theobromine and caffeine. Dogs break these down slowly, so they build up.
- Dark chocolate carries more theobromine than milk chocolate, so smaller amounts can cause signs.
- The coconut filling is high in fat, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some dogs, pancreatitis.
- Swallowed wrappers can cause a blockage.
- Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. Do not make your dog vomit at home.
- Related: chocolate and dogs, dark chocolate, Cherry Ripe Dark.
What is in a Cherry Ripe
A standard Cherry Ripe is a filling of coconut and chopped cherries bound with sugar and syrup, coated in dark chocolate. The cherries are pitted and processed, so pits are not the concern. The concerns are:
- Theobromine and caffeine in the cocoa
- Fat from coconut and chocolate
- Sugar, which adds to gut upset
- Packaging, particularly in multipacks of smaller bars
Why chocolate is toxic to dogs
Theobromine and caffeine are methylxanthines. In dogs they stimulate the nervous system and heart, and act on the kidneys to increase urination. Dogs eliminate theobromine much more slowly than people do, so it stays in their system for a long time and signs can last a day or more. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it holds. That is why a dark-coated bar like Cherry Ripe is more concerning than the same weight of a milk chocolate bar.
Signs usually start within about 6 to 12 hours of eating and can include:
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Increased thirst and urination
- Restlessness, hyperactivity or panting
- A racing or irregular heartbeat
- Muscle tremors or twitching
- Wobbliness
- Seizures and collapse in severe cases
The coconut and fat problem
Even when the chocolate amount is low, a dog that eats several bars has had a large, sudden fatty meal. That can cause vomiting and diarrhoea a day or two later, and some dogs develop pancreatitis, which can be serious. Small breeds, overweight dogs and dogs with a history of pancreatitis are at higher risk.
Wrappers
Dogs rarely unwrap before they eat. Plastic wrappers can pass, but a wad of them, especially in a small dog, can lodge in the stomach or intestine.
What to do if your dog ate Cherry Ripe
- Move your dog away from any remaining bars and gather the wrappers.
- Work out how many bars, what size (full size, fun size, minis) and roughly when.
- Weigh your dog, or use the most recent weight.
- Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. They will calculate the risk for your dog.
- Follow their advice. If your dog needs to come in, go promptly. Vets can often induce vomiting safely within the first couple of hours.
Do not give salt, hydrogen peroxide or anything else to make your dog vomit at home. These can cause serious harm.
When it is an emergency
Go straight to a vet or emergency hospital if your dog is trembling, very restless, panting heavily, has a racing heart, is wobbly, collapses or has a seizure. Repeated vomiting or a painful belly also need prompt care.
How vets treat chocolate ingestion
Treatment depends on how much was eaten, when, and how your dog is. Options include inducing vomiting in clinic, giving activated charcoal to reduce absorption, intravenous fluids to support the kidneys and speed elimination, and medicines to control heart rate, tremors or seizures. Your vet chooses these for the individual dog. Most dogs treated early recover well.
Prevention tips
- Store chocolate in high cupboards, not on coffee tables or in handbags on the floor.
- Be extra careful at Easter, Christmas and birthdays, when chocolate exposure in dogs spikes.
- Ask visitors and children to keep lollies away from the dog.
- Bin wrappers straight away.
FAQ
My big dog ate one fun size Cherry Ripe. Is that dangerous?
It may be low risk for a large dog, but it depends on weight and the amount. Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline to check.
Are the cherries in Cherry Ripe a problem?
The cherries are pitted and processed, so pits are not the issue. Sugar and fat still contribute to stomach upset.
How long do signs last?
Signs can last 12 to 72 hours in more serious cases, because dogs clear theobromine slowly.
Is coconut toxic to dogs?
Coconut is not toxic, but it is high in fat and can cause gut upset in large amounts.
Talk with a vet
If your dog has found the chocolate stash, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you work out the risk and whether you need to head in. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate toxicosis in animals.
- Gwaltney-Brant S. Chocolate intoxication. Vet Med. 2001;96(2):108-111.
- Noble PJM, et al. Heightened risk of canine chocolate exposure at Christmas and Easter. Vet Rec. 2017;181(25):684.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.