It seems that as soon as the Christmas chocolate stocks vanish from the shelves of the supermarkets they are replaced by endless rows of Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies.  To some chocolate is a lovely distraction from day to day life, to others it is a temptation away from that hard to stick to diet for cats and dogs it can be lethal.

 
Because most people enjoy chocolate it is assumed that our pets will as well, in fact many cats and dogs will beg to be given it. 

Is chocolate really that bad for pets?

In mild cases, the high fat and sugar content of the chocolate will simply cause an upset stomach before being flushed out of their system. In more severe cases it can cause pancreatitis, inflaming the pet’s pancreas and causing:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Depression
• Stomach ache
• Death

In addition to the high fat and sugar content, chocolate also contains a chemical known as theobromine which is a powerful and potentially fatal toxin for cats and dogs alike causing:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Muscle tremors
• Seizures or convulsions
• Heart arrhythmias which may result in fainting or episodes of dizziness
• Death

Theobromine is found in the chocolate liquor contained within the chocolate bar, therefore the more chocolate there is in the chocolate bar the more toxic it is. For example a bar of 70% dark chocolate (or Bourneville) would be more dangerous than a bar of milk chocolate (such as Dairy Milk), this isn’t to say that it is OK to give them Milky Bar buttons. If you really want to give your pet a treat take a trip down to the local pet shop or the pet care aisle in the supermarket to see the alternatives available.

NB: If you suspect your pet is suffering from chocolate poisoning you should take him to the vet. If the chocolate has been recently ingested it can be treated by making him vomit thereby removing it from his stomach. If the chocolate has had time to be absorbed into the system the treatment may require hospitalisation.