Beware of Easter eggs! Chocolate is a poison for cats and dogs

Chocolate is a real poison for our dogs and cats. Symptoms and methods of intervention in case of ingestion.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

A few days before Easter, but chocolate eggs are already present in many homes, especially if they are inhabited by children. It is true, there is a great curiosity to discover what surprise that envelope of sweetness hides, but in the end what delights the palates of young and old is he, the chocolate.

But while on us human beings, chocolate also seems to have positive effects on health, both physically and mentally, for animals represents a real poison: to be indicted is the theobromine, an alkaloid which exerts an exciting action on the central nervous system and which cats and dogs metabolize more slowly.

But several factors affect the negative consequences that can derive from the ingestion of chocolate: the type (the dark one is naturally more harmful), the quantity eaten, the weight of the animal.

The latter significantly affect the theobromine intoxication symptoms: only the digestive system may be affected with vomiting and / or diarrhea, or restlessness, muscle tremors, increased heart and respiratory rate, increased urination may also occur; in the most severe cases, epileptic seizures, up to the death of the animal.

So it is undoubtedly necessary to worry if you realize that your four-legged friend has eaten chocolate, but without bandaging his head right away: as mentioned above, different is if only a square centimeter or a whole tablet is ingested. , whether to eat it is a Great Dane or a Chiwawa.

It is important however monitor your pet and go immediately to your vet or emergency room if the situation is serious (even severe vomiting and diarrhea are not to be underestimated, as they can cause severe dehydration). Based on the medical history and the clinical visit, the doctor will decide whether to cause emesis to expel as quickly as possible the toxic substance not long ingested (and therefore not yet completely digested and absorbed) or to perform a gastric lavage, whether to carry out fluid therapy or resort to the administration of drugs.

We have repeatedly stressed the fact that sweets are harmful to the health of our furry ones, but compared to what you have been able to read in this last article, I think it is not necessary to reiterate the importance of not giving them chocolate; also put particular attention especially during these Easter holidays: it would not be difficult to find hectograms if not kilos of Easter eggs at home, and the greediest subjects would be able to use all their ingenuity in order to raid them.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!