My
cat loves to lick my bowl after eating mint
chocolate chip ice cream. I just heard
that chocolate can kill cats and dogs. Is
this true? (Nicole, Austin, Texas)
Even
in relatively small amounts chocolate is poison to cats and dogs. Chocolate
contains caffeine and theobromine, two different types of stimulants that affect
the central nervous system and the heart muscle, as well as increasing the
frequency of urination. For a cat or
dog to lick the remains of an ice cream from
a bowl is unlikely to cause any harm at all
unless the animal has a specific medical
condition already.
However, if the animal
was to eat a larger quantity of chocolate he may become very sick indeed and
develop vomiting or diarrhea. When the amount of chocolate eaten is excessive,
symptoms can include restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased
urination and/or excessive panting. White chocolate has the least amount of
stimulants and baking chocolate or cocoa beans have the highest. A better idea is to
buy chocolate drops which are made specifically
for pets, as they will not harm your pets'
teeth.
Disclaimer: This service is meant to provide advice
only and is not meant to replace an appointment with a registered
veterinarian. Users should always seek a second opinion. Unfortunately we
are only able to answer several questions per week so not everyone gets a
published answer. And, unfortunately we can't answer by email.
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My
cat loves to lick my bowl after eating mint
chocolate chip ice cream. I just heard
that chocolate can kill cats and dogs. Is
this true? (Nicole, Austin, Texas)
