Chocolate may be a favorite treat for us humans. However for you Chocolate Lab, chocolate may be deadly. We may act intoxicated after eating a bar of chocolate. A well known fact is, pets are more susceptible to chocolate intoxication. This is particularly true for dogs. It doesn’t mean that a whiff of your chocolate bar is going to harm your pet but at increased quantities, chocolate may be fatal (always consult your veterinarians for pet’s health). Pet are most susceptible during holidays such as Valentines day, Easter, Christmas etc., when we consume chocolates. All pets are susceptible but dogs are more so, because of their indiscriminate eating habit.

The intoxication is caused by theobromine and caffeine which come under a category of chemicals called methylxanthines. In most chocolate compounds theobromine is the predominant toxic component, and caffeine is present in much lower concentrations. These chemicals affect the central nervous system of your pet. Small amounts can cause restlessness and vomiting in your pet. Some of the signs of intoxication are
· Excitement, nervousness and trembling
· Vomiting and diarrhea
· Excessive thirst or excessive urination (at higher levels of theobromine toxicity)
· Muscle spasms
· Seizures
· Coma (rare)
· Death (rare)
Consult your vet if your pet has ingested chocolate by accident or if you see any of the symptoms. Treatment usually requires inducing vomiting, stabilizing the animal’s heartbeat and respiration, controlling seizures and slowing the absorption of theobromine.


tags: chocolate, chocolate lab, chocolate intoxication, death by chocolate, pet intoxication

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