What makes chocolate poisonous to dogs

You do know that chocolate is incredibly poisonous to dogs don't you?

Dogs and chocolate do not mix. Although dogs, like humans, love the taste of chocolate for them consuming it can result in vomiting, diarrhea,  hyperactivity, tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, respiratory failure, internal bleeding, cardiac arrest and death.

This is because chocolate contains an alkaloid called theobromine, a stimulant found in the cocoa bean which affects the central nervous system and heart. Unfortunately for dogs their digestive system is different to ours and they cannot metabolize it so eating chocolate can result in theobromine poisoning.

Image: Aka via Wikimedia Commons

Rock salt and antifreeze poisoning in dogs & cats

Rock salt spread by gritters and antifreeze used by motorists are both toxic to dogs and cats when ingested and our feline and canine friends will ingest them via grooming if the substances are on their paws. So please remember to clean your pets paws after winter walks.

If you suspect your pet may have ingested either rock salt or antifreeze the sooner you get them to the vet the better their chances of survival.

Symptoms of rock salt poisoning:

• Sore paws
• Burns to the mouth
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Convulsions 

which can lead to liver or kidney failure resulting in death.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning:

• Excessive drinking & urination
• Drunken behaviour
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Shaking
• Convulsions
• Coma

again leading to organ failure and death.

May you find a pot of gold ~ Happy St Patrick's Day

 Kiss me I'm Irish!

No really I am it was the place of my birth.

May you have all the happiness

& luck that life can hold,

& at the end of all your rainbows

may you find a pot of gold.

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