Easter is fast approaching and everybody will be spending their time creating the best chocolate eggs or end up buying some for their families. Although the brown, sweet, ambrosia-on-earth treat is relatively safe for humans, it is extremely dangerous to those who aren't, like your pets.
Easter egg hunts may end up being interrupted by trips to the veterinarian - both cats and dogs are prone to chocolate poisoning. However, the former is less likely to gorge on a chocolate egg since feline friends are unable to taste sweetness.
Why does chocolate poison dogs and cats?
This is due to theobromine, a chemical compound which is a nervous system stimulant for humans, but a deadly poison for pets. This is mainly toxic to pets due to them not having the essential enzymes to break it down. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content, which means unsweetened types are the most dangerous ones.
What are the symptoms?
Warning signs usually take six to 12 hours to manifest after consumption. However, take action immediately if it is evident that your pet ate chocolate.
- Diarrhea
- Extreme thirst
- Panting
- Shaking
- Seizures
- Hyperactivity
Early treatment will help pets recover quicker and easier, though symptoms may last for as long as 72 hours.
Keeping Easter chocolates away from pets
The best way to keep Easter chocolate away from pets is to simply hold the Easter egg hunts out of reach and inaccessible to them. Disposing chocolate-coated wrappers and leftovers is also a must, given that even a minuscule amount of the sweet can direcly affect a pet's health.
The way a dog can be affected by is highly dependent on its size. Medium and large-sized dogs, like Labradors, German Shepherds, and St Bernards are far less likely to experience severe symptoms than smaller breeds. It's best to keep them in a crate when the hunts are happening, or else they will be the first to sniff out the chocolate eggs and bunnies before the human participants!
