CHOCOLATE CAN POISON YOUR DOG ?!With the fruits of trick-or-treating still around the house, it's a
good time to remember that chocolate can be toxic to pets.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, theobromine
a caffeine-like compound, is found in all chocolates and cocoa
powder.
While candies are mostly milk chocolate (sweetened) and present
less danger than baking chocolate (unsweetened), poisonings occur with
the quantity of candies available around the holiday.
Signs of toxicity range from restlessness, excitement, and muscle
tremors to seizures and coma. Pets, especially dogs, also can exhibit
irregular heartbeats, vomiting, diarrhea, and panting. Signs usually
begin 4 to 5 hours after ingestion.
Death has been reported in dogs receiving as little as 500
milligrams of theobromine (1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate or 10
ounces of sweetened chocolate).
If your pet is in trouble, contact your veterinarian immediately.
It is important to induce vomiting even if the chocolate was ingested
several hours previously.
Copyright 1994 Bergen Record Corp.
The Record
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