Easter is a fun time, and with it come Easter Eggs, made of CHOCOLATE. Just a quick reminder to be extra careful that the dogs don’t snaffle the chocolate in all the excitement….and be careful they don’t eat any of the packaging either, as that could be a problem.

Chocolate and Dogs
Dogs, chocolate and poison.

Dogs eat all sorts of stuff. Rubbish, shoes, homework,.. .. dirty nappies – things that would put you and I in the casualty. And yet, despite the seemingly ironclad canine digestive system, one of our favorite snacks and comforters can be deadly to a dog. If you are someone who pays attention to the health and well-being of your pets you probably already know that dogs cannot eat chocolate. But have you ever wondered why chocolate can be so dangerous for dogs when it’s so heavenly for us? The answer is simple and strictly chemical… ..

Chocolate contains theobromine, which is a naturally-occurring molecule found in the cocoa beans, coffee, tea, and cola and is related to caffeine. In the medical field it has been used as a drug to treat high blood pressure because of its ability to dilate blood vessels. Because of its diuretic effect, (makes you pee), it is also sometimes used in cases where heart failure has resulted in an accumulation of body fluid. What makes it poisonous for dogs and not humans is the fact that dogs are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively. If they are fed chocolate, the theobromine will remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours. Theobromine can be dangerous to cats as well but little is ever mentioned about the toxicity most likely because cats have eating habits that are different from dogs and they are less likely to inhale large quantities of chocolate.

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