Dogs & Chocolate...Scary Stuff!

Now that Halloween has past, some of us have a lot of candy hanging around the house.  This is a better time than ever to remind pet owners of the danger of chocolate to your pets.

The Facts...
Chocolate contains a caffeine related substance called theobromine which can sicken or kill animals.  Dogs are most often affected by this due to their sweet tooth and a nose that leads them right to it.  In many cases chocolate is more likely to give a dog nothing more than a sick stomach but if ingested in high enough levels it can be fatal.  The type of chocolate, the size of the animal, and the amount of chocolate ingested are all factors in how dangerous it can be.  Unsweetened baker's chocolate contains 8 - 10 times more theobromine than milk chocolate and white chocolate has very little therefore is least toxic. 

Overall it's safest to keep chocolate clear from anywhere your pooch may find it.  Carob is a perfectly safe alternative and most dogs love it too.  If you are making some homemade treats and want to make them extra special add some carob chips to the batch, your dog will love you for it!

                                               Our Friend Atticus