Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

 

Chocolate is a treat that most human beings enjoy eating. This delicious treat however, is surprisingly poisonous for dogs. You might have seen a dog eating chocolate without having any side effects, but this treat can be harmful to their wellbeing. As a dog owner, it is crucial always to keep chocolate away from your dog. We are going to explain why it is harmful to feed your dog chocolate.

When you hear someone saying it is unsafe to feed your dog chocolate, you might think it is because of pet allergies, but this is not the case. The main reason why chocolate is bad for the dog is that it is poisonous. Poisonous? How can chocolate be poisonous, you may ask.

Chocolate contains a component known as theobromine, which is a bitter alkaloid compound. This compound can be found in caffeine, and they help human beings to stay alert. Theobromine in the dog’s immune system is unhealthy, and it must be prevented at all cost.

The human immune system can easily digest theobromine, but it is not the same for dogs. When dogs eat chocolate, it takes a longer time to metabolise the chocolate, which is unhealthy and toxic for the dog. Feeding the dog chocolate will only build up the toxic levels.

If you have fed your dog chocolate in the past and nothing happened, it does not mean your dog is immune to the effects of chocolate. The size of the dog also matters. A big dog eating a small amount of chocolate might not have any side effects than a small dog.

To know if your dog has been affected after eating chocolate, you can look out for a few symptoms. The most popular signs are vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe effects include internal bleeding, irregular heartbeat or heart attack, and muscle tremors.

Chocolate intake can be toxic for dogs when not taken seriously. Rush your dog to the vet when you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate. Vets are the only people qualified to treat the intake of chocolate in a dog. The first thing a vet does when a dog eats chocolate is to empty the dog’s stomach. They then carry on with other medications to minimise the effects of the chocolate.

Unlike humans, dogs don’t know that chocolate is unhealthy for them, so they will continue to eat them when they get the opportunity. To prevent this from happening, keep chocolate far from your dog.

If in the unfortunate event your pet has consumed chocolate and the effects are fatal, contact Pets in Peace. Pets in Peace is a thoughtful pet aftercare service that helps support you when your pet passes away. Pets in Peace offers cremations, funerals and personalised keepsakes to honour and cherish the memory of your beloved pet. Contact the team at Pets in Peace today on 1800 100 909.

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