CHOCOLATE IS BAD........FOR DOGS!
Posted by Russell Gibbons on 17th Mar 2016
CHOCOLATE IS BAD!.......For dogs……
In fact, it is the Theobromine, which is an alkaloid, which is technically the bad thing for dogs…….It just so happens that it occurs naturally in the seeds of the Cocoa Tree.
These seeds are harvested and Cocoa Butter is made from them, which is what chocolate is made from!
Oh, and the darker the chocolate; the higher the concentration of Theobromine which means the higher the toxicity!
Just for your interest however, it’s not just dogs who suffer from chocolate toxicity; it occurs in most mammals…….even us……to a degree.
It’s just that humans, rats and mice have different metabolic pathways to process, and deal with, the Theobromine we ingest from Chocolate……
Cats, on the other hand, have a lower tolerance than dogs, however, they do not posses the same “sweet taste” receptors that us and dogs have. Therefore, they do not find the Chocolate appetizing; as such, they rarely, if ever, will eat chocolate even if it is lying around.
Before we create mass hysteria however, It is stated in the Royal Society of Chemistry, that a human would have to eat at least 5kg of Chocolate before we would succumb to Theobromine poisoning!
I dare say the sugar, and fat, might wreak havoc on us before the Theobromine had a chance, if we ate that much all at once!!!
I suppose the key to remember is this……..
- Chocolate will harm your dogs.
- It is NOT entirely dose dependent.
- It is also type of chocolate dependent.
- The darker it is the worse it is for them!
So no matter what happens this Easter, keep a keen eye on your puppy and do not let anyone feed them chocolate. Just because it is that time of the year where we love to consume it doesn’t mean our puppies can.
Just give them some of the Huds and Toke Easter treats.
These are especially designed for dogs.....
BUT THEY ARE NOT CHOCOLATE…..NOR ARE THEY MADE WITH CHOCOLATE!
All Huds and Toke Treats are made with Carob, which is a chocolate substitute ……it DOES NOT contain Theobromine, added sugar, or other added fats and preservatives…..
Carob is a vastly different plant and is SAFE for dogs, and other mammals, to eat.
But this is another topic to expand on at a later date.
Back to this Easter……..Some tips to watch for:
- If you are having an Easter Egg hunt
- Lock the dog inside whilst the hunt is on.
- Count how many Chocolate Easter Eggs you place out.
- Count how many the kiddies, both big and small, find.
- Don’t leave any in the garden “un-found”…..because the will be found when you let the puppy out!!!
- Tell the kids NOT to feed the puppy.
- Educate them on the why.
- Stipulate to any guests you might have that the rules are to NOT give the dogs any Chocolate.
- Place Chocolates in high cupboards.
- Pick up after the kids.
Of course accidents happen……so keep an eye out for a few signs such as:
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Elevated heart rate
- Tremors
If you see any of these signs head straight to your local vets practice or animal hospital.
The good news is that the professionals understand this problem really well and they have a range of treatments to make sure you have a healthy puppy dog for many years to come…..
But lets avoid the trip hey!!!!!
Why not Join our Journey and become part of our family by clicking here......and get a 15% discount on your first order??? Click Here
HAPPY EASTER from the guys @ Huds and Toke.
"Creating Memories"
PS: Please feel free to post a review on one of these review sites…….we appreciate the thought and it all helps. Thanks.