Although certain foods seem delicious to everyone, they will not necessarily make your pets happy. This is the case of chocolate which is not toxic for humans, but is for animals.
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Why is chocolate dangerous for pets?
Chocolate itself is not dangerous, but the reaction of some of its chemical compounds with the metabolism of animals can cause real damage. The cause is the alkaloids contained in chocolate, certain properties of which can damage the heart and digestion of animals. The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the more dangerous its toxicity.
The name of this toxic alkaloid in animals is methylxanthine. It is particularly present in the cocoa bean, so the cocoa content matters enormously when it comes to the toxicity of chocolate.
How much chocolate is toxic for my dog or cat?
In order to define the toxic quantity for an animal, it is important to define the cocoa content of chocolate. We speak of poisoning for the dog when it ingests a quantity of 50 grams of 100% chocolate. Consequently, if the chocolate has a cocoa content of 50%, toxicity will be proven at 100 grams.
Likewise, the weight of the animal can influence. For example, for a 40 kg dog, it will need to ingest 200 grams of 50% dark chocolate for the ingestion to be toxic.
What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning?
The symptoms of chocolate poisoning appear just a few hours after ingesting chocolate. The first symptoms are digestive. The animal will tend to vomit and have diarrhea.
If you observe this in your animal, you must urgently go to your veterinarian. If the quantity ingested is large, it is possible that digestive disorders may be accompanied by neurological disorders such as convulsions. He can also fall into a coma.
Another symptom following the ingestion of too much chocolate is heart problems. The animal is at risk of developing an accelerated heart rate. At the same time, it is possible that the animal's temperature increases, as well as its respiratory rate.
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What to do in case of chocolate poisoning?
The first instinct to have when an animal ingests chocolate is to make it vomit. The operation should preferably take place within 20 minutes of ingestion. If possible, it is advisable to go to a veterinarian to carry out this operation. In fact, making an animal vomit has consequences on its metabolism and may require the intervention of a professional.