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What makes chocolate toxic to pets, and what are the signs of toxicity?

April 26, 2017chocolate Pets signs toxic toxicity

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What makes chocolate toxic to pets, and what are the signs of toxicity?

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Chocolate is a popular treat all year round. Care must be taken when animals are around, though. Chocolate can be toxic, and sometimes even fatal, for animals. Dogs are most commonly affected, due to their ability to find it and the common ‘sweet tooth’ they seem to have. It is important to remember that cats and other species are susceptible to the toxic effects of chocolate, too. Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.) The toxic dose of Theobromine (and caffeine) for pets is 100-200mg/kg. Signs are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion.