Never feed dogs chocolate
Our love for our pets can sometimes go too far. A line is crossed if our love also harms our pet’s health. Yet it’s not uncommon: there are frequent reports of people feeding dogs chocolate.
It’s easy to understand how it happens. When you’re treating yourself, and you love your pet, it’s only natural to want to treat your pet too. But unfortunately, when people feed dogs a chocolate biscuit, chocolate cake or a square of chocolate, they’re neglecting their responsibilities as a pet owner. Chocolate can seriously harm your dog’s health.
Treat with danger
Chocolate is a powerful stimulant. It’s banned in horse racing due to its performance enhancing properties. And for dogs, its effects can overwhelm their small bodies.
Killer ingredients
Chocolate contains naturally occurring methylxanthines caffeine and theobromine, both of which are toxic to dogs (and cats). Whereas humans can quickly metabolise methylxanthines, they can hang around in a dog’s bloodstream for 20 hours. At high enough quantities they may cause hyperthermia, heart attacks, epileptic seizures and even death.
Early signs of toxicity may include drinking and urinating more than normal, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness. Due to their small body mass, chocolate is even more dangerous for puppies.
If there’s a chance your dog or puppy has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately.
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