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''Theobromine'' is derived from ''[[Theobroma]]'', the name of the [[genus]] of the cacao tree, with the suffix ''-ine'' given to alkaloids and other [[base (chemistry)|basic]] nitrogen-containing compounds.<ref name="dict-ine">{{cite book | chapter = -ine | title = The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition | publisher = [[Houghton Mifflin Company]] | year = 2004 | chapter-url = http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ine | isbn = 978-0-395-71146-0 | access-date = 2007-02-23 | archive-date = 2016-03-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171459/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ine | url-status = live }}</ref> That name in turn is made up of the [[Greek (language)|Greek]] roots ''theo'' ("[[god]]") and ''broma'' ("food"), meaning "food of the gods".<ref name="worldofcaffeine">{{cite book | vauthors = Bennett AW, Bealer BK | title = The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug | publisher = [[Routledge]], New York | year = 2002 | isbn = 978-0-415-92723-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/worldofcaffeines00benn }} (note: the book incorrectly states that the name "theobroma" is derived from Latin)</ref>
Despite its name, the compound contains no [[bromine]], which is based on Greek ''bromos'' ("stench").
==Sources==
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===Animals===
Theobromine is the reason chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Dogs and other animals that [[metabolize]] theobromine (found in chocolate) more slowly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/toxicology/food_hazards/chocolate.html|title=Chocolate – Toxicology – Merck Veterinary Manual|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712005049/http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/toxicology/food_hazards/chocolate.html|url-status=live}}</ref> can succumb to theobromine poisoning from as little as {{cvt|50|g|oz}} of [[milk chocolate]] for a smaller dog and {{cvt|400|g|oz}}, or around nine {{convert|1.55|oz|order=flip|adj=on}} small milk chocolate bars, for an average-sized dog. The concentration of theobromine in dark chocolates (about {{cvt|10|g/kg}}) is up to 10 times that of milk chocolate ({{cvt|1|to|5|g/kg}}), meaning dark chocolate is far more toxic to dogs per unit weight or volume than milk chocolate.
The [[median lethal dose]] of theobromine for dogs is {{cvt|100|–|200|mg/kg|}}; therefore, a {{cvt|10|kg|}} dog would need to consume a minimum of {{cvt|200|g|}} of the most theobromine-rich ({{cvt|5|g/kg|}}) dark chocolate, or a maximum of {{cvt|1|kg|}} (of theobromine-rich milk chocolate), to have a 50% chance of receiving a lethal dose. However, even {{cvt|40|g|}} of milk chocolate may induce vomiting and diarrhea.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gwaltney-Brant |first1=Sharon |title=Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals |url=https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/chocolate-toxicosis-in-animals |website=Merck Veterinary Manual |publisher=Merck & Co., Inc. |access-date=24 December 2023}}</ref>
The same risk is reported for cats as well,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aspcapro.org/sites/pro/files/m-toxbrief_0201_0.pdf |title=Chocolate intoxication |vauthors=Gwaltney-Brant S |publisher=[[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals|ASPCA]] |website=aspcapro.org |access-date=23 December 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208145634/http://aspcapro.org/sites/pro/files/m-toxbrief_0201_0.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> although cats are less likely to ingest sweet food, as cats lack [[Sweetness#The sweetness receptor|sweet taste receptors]].<ref name=wired>{{cite magazine |url=https://wired.com/2013/02/the-poisonous-nature-of-chocolate |title=The Poisonous Chemistry of Chocolate |date=14 February 2013 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=12 March 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208145832/https://www.wired.com/2013/02/the-poisonous-nature-of-chocolate/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Complications include digestive issues, dehydration, excitability, and a slow heart rate. Later stages of theobromine poisoning include [[epilepsy|epileptic]]-like [[seizure]]s and death. If caught early on, theobromine poisoning is treatable.<ref name="healthwatchcanines">{{cite news | title=HEALTH WATCH: How to Avoid a Canine Chocolate Catastrophe! | newspaper=The News Letter | location=Belfast, Northern Ireland | date=2005-03-01}}</ref> Although not common, the effects of theobromine poisoning can be fatal.
== See also ==
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