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PETS | Health and wellbeing
theobromine — both of which veterinarian
Dr Felicia Tam says stimulate your pet’s
central nervous system and heart muscle,
as well as increase urine output.
“The combined side eff ects of chocolate
toxicity or poisoning can be very dangerous
and can cause death or seizures. Dehydration
is also a very real risk due to the vomiting,
diarrhoea and increased urination it can cause,”
she explains.
Dr Felicia says because diff erent chocolate
products contain diff erent amounts of caff eine
and theobromine, diff erent types of chocolate
are more dangerous than others. “The size,
shape, breed, health and age of your pet will
also infl uence how much is toxic — older
dogs with a heart condition, for example, are
at a higher risk of poisoning, as are miniature
breeds,” she says.
Interestingly, humans, too, can experience
unpleasant side effects from chocolate at high
enough doses — think sweating, trembling
and headaches. That said, it is very uncommon.
Unfortunately, even small amounts can beChocolate might be a mainstay of Easter,
and your pet may well be one of your great
loves, but never the two should meet.
Why? Chocolate contains two stimulants
that are dangerous to pets — caff eine andhttp://www.petsmagazine.com.au
Sharing your chocolate
with your furry friends
might seem like a nice
thing to do, but you’ll
be doing them a much
bigger favour by keeping
your chocolate to yourself.By Mel Hearse.
When it comes to dogs, the best
kind of chocolate is a LabradortcTREATS a
NOT-SO-SWEETNOT-SO-SWEET