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CHOCOLATE IS DELICIOUS AND SWEET!

It’s no wonder dogs love it. Unfortunately, it contains THEOBROMINE and CAFFEINE , ingredients that are toxic to pets at relatively small doses. These ingredients are most concentrated in baking and unsweetened dark chocolate, but are in all real chocolate and cocoa, including milk chocolate. Cakes and cookies flavored with chocolate are usually not toxic, but should not be given to pets. White chocolate has none of these ingredients, but should still not be fed to pets.

MINIMAL TOXIC DOSE FOR DOGS AND CATS: (kg=2.2 pounds   1ounce=30 grams)

Baker’s or Unsweetened Dark Chocolate: 2/10 ounce (about 6 grams) per kg of body weight

Milk Chocolate: 2 ounces (about 60 grams) per kg of body weight

 

SYMPTOMS OF CHOCOLATE TOXICITY:

Vomiting, restlessness, cardiac arrhythmia, increased urination, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory difficulty and seizures. Death may occur if pet is not treated.

 

IF YOU THINK YOUR PET HAS INGESTED CHOCOLATE, CALL THE CLINIC IMMEDIATELY (530-758-5650). SAVE ANY PACKAGING OR SAMPLES OF THE CHOCOLATE FOR IDENTIFICATION.

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