Chocolate Can Poison Your Pet, Australian Veterinary Association

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 28 Apr 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Keep Easter chocolates away from your pets. That is the message from the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) which is reminding pet owners that chocolate can poison your pet.

Dr Matthew Miles, Executive Officer of the AVA's small animals interest group warns that substances in chocolate which are safe for humans to consume have been known to affect or kill dogs, cats, birds, rodents and reptiles.

"Dogs are most susceptible because of their ability to gulp down large amounts of chocolate," Dr Miles said.

"Whether or not a pet is poisoned depends on the size of the animal and the type of chocolate they eat. Pups and smaller dogs seem to be most at risk because they will readily eat chocolate but can be poisoned by small quantities," he said.

"Chocolate toxicosis is a particular problem during Easter because chocolate is often left within easy reach of pets, and because different types of chocolate can contain high levels of substances that are toxic to them. The biggest threat is from cooking chocolate, followed by semi-sweet and dark chocolate, and milk chocolate."

Dr Miles said that a dog that has eaten a large quantity of chocolate may not show symptoms of sickness for several hours but can then deteriorate quickly, and even die within 24 hours.

"A chocolate overdose can cause a dog to become hyperactive. It may pass large amounts of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle tremors and weakness are also common," he said.

"If you see a pet suffering from poisoning symptoms, take it to your veterinarian immediately."

Dr Miles said once pets develop a taste for chocolate they can become potential candidates for accidental poisonings.

"We advise people to avoid giving pets even small amounts of chocolate as treats," he said.

Download: AVA2006-015chocolate.pdf

Australian Veterinary Association