Is Chocolate Really bad for pets?

We have the answer!This is what the Vets say.

The ASPCA's Poison control center and Vetrinarians have what they call a chocolate season. Like clock work, durning the time from Halloween to Valentine's Day, their phone lines ring off the hook, from frantic pet owners with "My pet ate chocolate!" calls. But how much is too much? What is the big deal anyway? Well here's the scoop.
Chocolate has stimulants in it, like caffine. Unlike humans, the digestive system in dogs and cats can not process these stimulants. So it is easy for a pet to overdose on this particular type of sweet treat. Cats have some sort of self control, only nibbling on it and walking away, whereas dogs have no "off switch" to their sweet tooth, like cats do. So they have a tendancy to gorge themselves.
The big deal being, that since pets, dogs especially cannot properly digest the stimulants in chocolate, and will consume as much of it as possible, causing an overdose, also called "Chocolate Poisoning", their body can pay a heavy price. Let me explain. The undigestable stimulants can affect the cardiovascular and central nervous system.
The following are some symptoms to look for if you suspect your pet has consumed chocolate:

1.High Heart rate

2. Tremors (including siezures)

3.Heart errythmia (uneven beating)

4. Coma

5. Death (fatalities are RARE BUT DO happen)

 

So how much is too much?

The risk of fatal chocolate poisoning depends on 3 things, the amount consumed, size of the animal, and type of chocolate consumed. Let me explain:
The darker and more % of cocoa in the chocolate, the higher amounts of toxins. So a smaller amount of dark chocolate would do more harm than a larger amount of milk chocolate.

Example:

A healthy 35-40lb dogwould have to eat 1lb of milk chocolate versus 1/3 lb of dark, before consumption owuld cause serious health risks. Whereas, That same dog would have to comsume nearly 61 lbs of White chocolate before it's life threatening, Why so much of White chocolate? Because white chocolate dosen't really contain cocoa. But by far the worst type of chocolate for a pet to consume, Cocoa Powder.

What to do if your pet shows signs of the above symptoms:

Call ASPCA Poison Control Center ( 1-888-426-4435) or your vet or Emergency Clinic IMMEDIATLEY,bring remaining chocolate or what was suspected to have been consumed to the Vet. If they ate it all, bring the wrapper.

We ask all pet owners to share this post with friends. It could save a life!