Q: Why can’t I give my dog chocolate? He loves it!
A: Many food items can be toxic to our furry companions. Unfortunately, chocolate, one of life’s indulgences, can cause a host of dangerous medical conditions when consumed by dogs and cats.
The hazardous ingredients in chocolate include theobromine and caffeine, naturally occurring stimulants in cocoa beans. In combination, these two ingredients add up to a recipe of problems: vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, tremors, cardiac arrhythmias, and even death.
Your veterinarian should be consulted immediately after your pet ingests chocolate in any form or amount. You and your veterinarian can use a “chocolate calculator” to determine the level of toxic ingredients in your particular mishap.
