By now pretty much everyone knows that dogs and cats can’t have chocolate, so why are chocolate toxicity cases still so common? In this blog we dive into why chocolate is toxic, how to keep your pet safe, and what to do if they do get into it. We are also sharing some easy dog and cat safe recipes so that they can enjoy some homemade treats this Valentine’s day (or any day)!
Why Is Chocolate Toxic?
Theobromine is the active substance in chocolate that causes toxicity, in combination with the caffeine in chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine is in it. This is why dark chocolate is more dangerous to your pet than milk chocolate. These substances can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures, tremors, an abnormal heart rate, and death in severe cases. In addition to theobromine and caffeine, chocolate usually also has a high fat content, meaning that your pet could also be at risk for pancreatitis if they have eaten chocolate. Even if they have not eaten enough for the chocolate to be toxic, they are still at risk for an upset stomach, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.
How Do I Prevent Chocolate Toxicity?
Dogs and cats can be highly motivated by food. They can easily get into trash cans with no lids or tip over trash cans with lids. Cats can even open cabinet doors if they really want to get in. This means that sometimes we have to be a little creative to protect them from themselves! Trash cans with lids and ones with locking lids are ideal. If your pet is known for getting into the trash, you may want to take any toxic items, such as chocolate, straight to the outside bin. If your cat goes into cabinets looking for treats, consider child proofing the cabinet doors (or at least the ones that hold things like chocolate and other toxic substances) so that they can’t open them. Remember to stay aware of where you are placing chocolate to make sure it is out of reach of your pet(s), especially during the holidays when it’s more likely to be around or placed in stockings. If you have children that are old enough, make sure they understand why their pet can’t have chocolate and other toxic foods.
What To Do If Your Pet Eats It
If your pet does get into chocolate, the first thing you will want to do is call your veterinarian, pet poison control, or an emergency veterinary facility. You will need to know 1) the most chocolate your pet could have eaten, 2) the time period in which they could have eaten it, and 3) the type of chocolate. It’s even more helpful if you have a wrapper (or wrappers, depending on how hungry your pet was) to refer to with the ingredients and ounces of the product(s). If it’s determined that your pet could have ingested a concerning amount of chocolate, then you will need to bring your pet to a veterinary professional so that they can induce vomiting. This will help get rid of any chocolate your pet has not yet digested, and then activated charcoal may be given to keep what’s left from being absorbed by the GI tract. This means that, hopefully, instead of your pet absorbing toxic levels and it affecting their neurological system, they just get an upset stomach. However, if too much theobromine/caffeine has been absorbed, there will be more supportive care, treatments, and possibly hospitalization recommended. Prevention is always preferred over treatment, so remember to do what you can to keep toxins safely locked away!
Now that we got the important stuff out of the way, we can talk about some homemade treats. While it’s true that there are many things your pet can’t have, there’s still a lot they CAN have in moderation! Please view the dog safe and cat safe recipes below. If you tried making one of these recipes, let us know what your pet thought!
A Dog Safe Homemade Treat Recipe!
These no bake, 3 ingredient peanut butter oat treats can be made quickly and easily. This recipe would also be easy to do with kids! Ingredients:
-1 cup peanut butter (make sure it is xylitol free!)
-1 & ½ cups plain quick oats
-½ cup mini marshmallows (also make sure these are xylitol free!)
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Use a spoon to portion out small balls and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. To keep them fresh longer, keep them in the fridge in an airtight container. Remember not to give your pet too much of a new food at once! Keep in mind that these are treats and should not take the place of your pet’s regular food. If your pet has a sensitive stomach or dietary restrictions, please check with your veterinarian before trying this recipe!
A Dog Safe Homemade Treat Recipe!
If your cat loves tuna, then they will LOVE this Tasty Tuna Crackers recipe from the ASPCA. Ingredients:
-6 oz undrained tuna
-1 cup cornmeal
-1 cup flour
-⅓ cup water
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Roll them into ¼ inch size pieces and bake on parchment paper at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Let cool before serving! To keep them fresh longer, keep them in the fridge in an airtight container. Remember not to give your pet too much of a new food at once! Keep in mind that these are treats and should not take the place of your pet’s regular food. If your pet has a sensitive stomach or dietary restrictions, please check with your veterinarian before trying this recipe! For recipes like this, visit the resources page of the ASPCA website.