“Why can I eat chocolate, but my dog can’t?” – If you have ever pondered over this, then let’s dig for some answers…

     You must’ve heard that recent studies have shown that chocolate (especially dark chocolate)  is good for the human heart (Good news for us chocolate lovers! J ) but do you know it can kill your dog :-o??!

     Some people think it is strange that something good for us can be fatal to our four-legged friends! Well, the reason is that chocolate contains a chemical called “Theobromine” and this is a substance similar to caffeine (Yes, caffeine is harmful for your beloved pet as well!) and this chemical is easily metabolized by human beings but very slowly in dogs. In simple words, humans can break down and excrete this chemical present in chocolate much easier than dogs can (Yes, this does mean that chocolate in extremely large quantities can be harmful to human beings too). Some people think that they can give their dogs chocolates in small amounts (“Can I give my dog a little chocolate, just to taste maybe?”) – but NEVER do that, it’s potentially lethal! Sometimes, depending on your dog, a very small quantity can be extremely harmful for it as well.

     If you fed your dog chocolate before you came across this article, then call your vet and ask for advice! If your dog suffers from chocolate poisoning, the vet might help it vomit the harmful chemical out. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may show till around 24hrs of consumption and these include: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, a quick heart rate, and rapid breathing in the beginning and can lead to a lack of co-ordination, muscle twitching, hyperactivity, increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, and ultimately seizures, internal bleeding, or heart attacks leading to death. 

     I agree it is difficult not to be enthralled by those oh-so-cute puppy-dog eyes and the merciful look they have on their faces when they beg for chocolate and the likes but, let’s keep this in mind and ensure they have a playful, long, and healthy life…….