Happy Halloween!
Halloween is a spooky and fun holiday that involves candy, costumes and trick-or-treating and many of us have children running around so it is important to remember that our diabetic pets cannot partake in sweet treats and that chocolate is toxic for dogs and cats. So here is a quick breakdown of why chocolate is toxic, symptoms and a chocolate toxicity calculator you can use. I have also included a pumpkin puree recipe at the end of the blog because our dogs and cats deserve some healthy treats and many of us have pumpkins that can be used.
Chocolate contains two chemicals, theobromine and caffeine. The amounts of theobromine and caffeine in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate - darker chocolates and unsweetened baking chocolate contain higher levels of theobromine and caffeine than milk chocolate.
If a dog or cat ingests chocolate symptoms of toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, and an elevated heart rate. The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount and type of chocolate ingested, as well as the size and weight of the dog.
If you suspect that your pet has ingested chocolate, it is important to contact your veterinarian or an ER vet right away. They can advise you on the best course of action based on the type and amount of chocolate your pet has consumed.
If you know that your cat or dog ate chocolate here is a chocolate toxicity calculator that you can use:
https://www.vetcalculators.com/chocolate.html
Do you have pumpkins that you didn’t carve or just carved? You can make pumpkin puree with those pumpkins and it is a big hit with many dogs and cats. Just make sure if you use a carved pumpkin that it is a fresh pumpkin and there are no signs of decay or mildew. Here is an easy recipe for making your own pumpkin puree!
(Click on recipe for a printable version)
Happy Halloween everyone and I hope that you have a great holiday, I can’t wait to see all the pics of your pets dressed up!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please start a conversation below. For a printable PDF of this blog please click here.
Until next week stay comfy, don’t stress and you got this!
Michelle Miller-Matlock
AAHA Certified Diabetes Educator
Founder/Administrator of DDO: Diabetic Dog Owners University
Administrator of Diabetic Dog Owners on Facebook
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