Pet Care & Tips General Pet Help Guides and Tips Chocolate: Poisonous to Cats and Dogs | Chocolate: Poisonous to Cats and Dogs |
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| Written by Kitty Teddy | ||||
| Friday, 21 December 2007 | ||||
 Our owners have all done it – sitting there enjoying the sweet, creamy, silky texture of their favourite chocolate, they catch us looking at them and, out of what they think is kindness and love, they give us a piece to share in their enjoyment. But by doing so, what they may not realise is that chocolate made for human consumption can be fatal to cats and dogs because it contains a chemical called theobromine.- Owners may not notice any immediate signs when giving their pet chocolate, but chocolate ingestion can lead to liver, pancreas and kidney failure as well as causing other neurological disorders. Theobromine is a diuretic and a heart stimulant which can cause the heart rate to increase and beat irregularly; other immediate signs of chocolate poisoning include diarrhoea, rapid breathing and vomiting. These may subside after a short while, but more serious conditions include tremors, seizures, comas and sudden death. -  Some pet owners who already give their dog chocolate might think ‘well, it hasn’t harmed my dog’ – but it’s only a matter of time. Some of the changes are subtle and the effects may accumulate over time. If you have given your pet chocolate, or suspect your dog has ingested chocolate, and is showing any of the signs of chocolate poisoning mentioned above, seek the advice and help of your vet. They will be able to induce vomiting and give your dog other treatments to prevent any further theobromine getting into their system. - Kitty & Teddy’s Pet Care Guide to Prevent Chocolate Poisoning in Pets We only have three simple and easy to follow tips to share with you here: - • Don’t give your cat or dog chocolate – ever! Even just a little bit, or if you have done so in the past and not noticed any adverse effects. • Keep chocolate away from your dogs reach – so no chocolate decorations on that Christmas tree. • You can give your pet chocolate drops that are specially made for cat and dog consumption. These and other dog-friendly chocolate products are available from many pet shops and pet stores. -   Add as favourites (0) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 279
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