Chocolates Are Toxic For Pets- Let’s Inspect Its Composition
Chocolate rules the world of desserts and is the most opted version of sweet when it comes to the clan of sweet tooth people. However for humans chocolates are just a few more pounds on hips, but for your furry friends they are far more dangerous than that.
Being a pet parent you must be aware of chocolate’s toxicity for pets. However why they are classified as inedible may not have come to your knowledge. So, let’s go through some of the most basic queries that you might find yourself baffled upon right here:
Why are chocolates categorized as toxic for pets?
Chocolates are made using roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao which has two elements that pet’s bodies are not compatible with. Caffeine and Theobromine cannot be ingested and broken down into simpler forms by dog’s and cat’s system. Therefore these two ingredients may pose serious medical complications if your pet ingests chocolate in any form.
How much danger do different chocolates pose?
The negative impact of chocolate depends on how much and what type your dog has had it. The types of chocolates and their effects that you should know about are:
- Dark Chocolate: This chocolate or baking chocolate has the highest concentration of theobromine and caffeine and therefore even its slightest intake of 1 ounce can be poisonous for a 20 pound pooch.
- Semi-Dark Chocolate: Semi sweet chocolate has diluted levels of theobromine and caffeine in it. It may induce mild signs of toxicity when your pet has as little as six ounces of chocolate per 20 pounds of weight.
- Milk Chocolate: 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight could imply danger in pets. Severe toxicity may be seen in case of more ingestion of milk chocolate.
In case you did not witness, what symptoms should you look for?
Pet owners do their best in safe guarding pets when it comes to ingestion of toxic substances such as chocolates. However your furry friend may grab a bite or even bytes without your knowledge. In such cases how would you determine whether your pooch or kitty is in danger? Here are a few symptoms that you may notice in your pets on eating chocolate:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Rise in body temperature
- Increases heart rates
- Intense reflex responses
- Low blood pressure
- Sudden decrease in agility
- Severe signs (weakness, heart failure, or coma)
In all, it may be the best if you keep all the types of chocolates away from your furry pals. Make sure you visit a vet as soon as you observe any of the above symptoms especially during festive seasons.