Chocolate to all animals including hamsters' if fed in sufficient quantities it is deadly, you must never feed chocolate to a hamster, or any other of your pets. Eating chocolate can trigger a release of serotonin within the brain, which contributes to the pleasurable experience. These chemicals are known for their effects on the heart and muscles. It is recommended to avoid eating chocolate if a person is already suffering from gastroesophagul diseases. Can Chickens Eat Chocolate? Theobromine is in the same family as caffeine and is a type of stimulant (they both are mythylxanines). Humans can eat chocolate of course, but animals can't really such as, dogs, cats, horses, rabbits etc. Why Can’t Dogs Eat Chocolate? At very high levels it can be toxic to humans, but that requires a lot of chocolate. Absolutely not! The Human Body. Published: 13th April, 2017 at 00:00 . This competition is now closed. Theobromine is an alkaloid found in the Cacao plant (of whose beans are cultivated to produce chocolate), tea leaves and cola beans. In the United States, there is a popular saying that a small pet dog can't eat chocolate, or it will be in danger of death, even if it only eats a little. Chocolate contains a class of chemicals known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine). Dogs have been with us for a long time. Send thanks to the doctor. A 56-year-old female asked: can eating chocolate cause seizures in humans? Can cats eat chocolate? This is why a relatively small amount of chocolate can be very bad for your dog. Theobromine is toxic to dogs and other pets at certain doses. Good luck. Chocolate is also toxic for other pet species including cats, but most problems are seen in dogs as many of them love the taste of chocolate and will eat as much as they can get their paws on! What to do if dog ate chocolate? It comes down to theobromine, a chemical in chocolate that humans can metabolize easily, but dogs cannot. However, it's much lighter and doesn't make that much of an impact. Perhaps it is for this reason that people and dogs share the same food preferences. Humans and dogs are on the same wavelength in so many ways, but while some of us run on chocolate and caffeine, dogs just can’t. This can cause seizures and arrhythmias. In large enough amounts, chocolate and cocoa products can kill your dog. 2 doctors agree. Two issues free when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine. Dogs have been accompanying humans for a long time. Dogs metabolise, or break down, theobromine much more slowly than humans. Chocolates and other cocoa products contain a toxic component called theobromine. x. 19 years experience Neurology. But can dogs eat chocolate ever, and if not, why is chocolate bad for dogs? Chocolate contains two properties that are dangerous for cats to ingest. Chocolate makes us happy in so many ways, but it also does so much more. Most pet owners know chocolate and dogs don’t mix. 0. Maybe it is for this reason that we have the same food preference as dogs. Chocolate provides some vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, that the body needs. By Sarah Jordan. One square, or even a few, are never enough. I've heard that even a small dog can't eat chocolate. The chemistry of chocolate is a bit complex to go into detail here. A large dog can consume more chocolate than a small dog before suffering ill effects. Why is chocolate toxic to dogs and other pets? Theobromine poisoning can cause heart failure, seizures, acute kidney damage and dehydration. Why can’t dogs eat chocolate? Chocolate is definitely bad news in quantity. The health effects of chocolate are the possible positive and negative effects on health of eating chocolate.. The reason being chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine and if consumed in huge quantities it can be harmful for cats. Theobromine, like caffeine, stimulates the heart and can cause insomnia, anxiety, withdrawal aches and tremors. Chocolate poisoning is a problem that occurs mainly in dogs but also occurs occasionally in cats or other animals. Chocolate contains an alkaloid called “theobromine”. The substances accumulate in the animal’s body in an amount that can be toxic or even fatal. Now many non-dog owners may not know whether it is an old wives tale or if there is any fact in it. That’s why I’ve written a huge article on in-depth article on what squirrels eat, to help you get started feeding your backyard critters. The toxic component of chocolate is theobromine. Chocolate is dangerous for pets for several reasons. Is it really so terrible? Like humans, all dogs are different and can react differently to foods. 1 9. turtle08s. can chocolate cause seizures in humans. Bears also cannot eat chocolate. Can humans die from […] Why Chocolate Is Dangerous For Squirrels and Other Animals Squirrels love eating chocolate, but it can … Even humans can be poisoned by eating chocolate, although the dose required would be very, very high. After a dog eats chocolate, their body cannot process these chemicals the same way our bodies can. For some dogs, one or two raisins can be toxic. Can chocolate be poisonous to humans? 0 comment. Bad chocolate. Despite this, chocolate poisoning in dogs remains a problem, particularly at Christmas, as a new study in the journal Vet Record shows. Chocolate causes your lower esophageal sphincter to relax, enabling the stomach contents to move back upwards which results in that heart burning sensation behind your chest known as an acid or gastroesophagul reflux. Now, we all know that squirrels eat anything they can get their hands on. Cats are not able to break down theobromine and eliminate them like humans. There are some interesting chemical reactions that spark our love of chocolate. The toxicity of chocolate. Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; Share on … They also cause dehydration and increase your buns heart rate. Why does chocolate make us happy? We just generally don't consume enough chocolate for it to reach a dangerous dose (that would require a lot of chocolate) however it can be an issues for people whose bodies cannot metabolise it properly anymore (such as … Some people argue that this can cause people to feel "addicted" to chocolate and women to crave chocolate before their menstrual cycle begins. Chocolate & seizure: No, chocolate does not cause seizures in people. Other dangerous effects include increasing calcium levels in the heart and skeletal muscles. … To complicate things further, chocolate also contains high levels of antioxidant chemicals called phenolics (found in red wine and tea), which prevent fats … Why does chocolate make us happy? 1 decade ago. Let’s take a little look. We love chocolate so much that we think eating it every day is not only acceptable, but a great idea. Although theobromine increases heart rate in humans, it also dilates blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure. It contains high levels of theobromine, a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. The simple answer to this question is no. The first is caffeine, which is why coffee is also on the list of foods to keep well away from any and all cats. “They just can’t break it down as fast as … While a chocolate bar may not appeal to them, any kind of milk-based chocolate drink can certainly be a risk around any feline! Chocolate contains theobromine. Can chickens eat chocolate or Is It bad and toxic for them? Why Is Chocolate So Dangerous for Cats to Eat? One of the most serious complications, Heinze says, is kidney failure. I love chocolate and once I start on a bar I can't stop until it's all gone. Humans can metabolize theobromine relatively quickly, but dogs and cats can not, so it is toxic and dangerous. 0 thank. Humans are able to consume chocolate in moderation because we can breakdown theobromine fairly quickly. Cacao is also poisonous for cats, although they tend to ignore chocolate, unlike dogs. Duffy Brook . Chickens should not eat chocolate, in the same way that it is going to be poisonous to most other animals the chocolate is bad for chickens. Some studies suggest moderate amounts of chocolate can help to lower blood pressure, while others point to the high levels of saturated fats in chocolate products, which increase blood cholesterol and raise your risk of heart disease. It can help calm us down, help us bond with people, and help us feel sophisticated (because yes, sometimes we need to create that illusion). Chocolate contains … Also important to note that some of those things OP mentioned (chocolate mainly) can also be dangerous to humans. As little as three squares of chocolate can make dogs sick. Dark chocolate is healthy for us. Why Dogs Can't Eat Chocolate. In fact, it is superior to codeine at suppressing cough and can be helpful in relaxing muscles to alleviate symptoms of asthma. The following Xiaobian will take you to find the answer! It’s a common statement that gets thrown about, that if a dog eats chocolate it could face some serious health problems that can commonly cause death. If your cat eats chocolate, theobromine basically acts … Bunnies that have consumed chocolate can overheat, experience heart attacks, and even suffer respiratory failure. Dr. Olav Jaren answered. Why can't you eat a little chocolate in America. But i am sure that some animals can eat chocolate, and we are not animals, we are human beings!!! Theobromine stimulates the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and causes a slightly increases blood pressure. Chocolate for humans can have some health benefits, but on the negative side it is rich in calories with high saturated fat content. Theobromine poisoning can cause heart failure, seizures, acute kidney damage and dehydration. So why can humans eat chocolate, but animals can’t? Humans easily metabolize theobromine, but dogs process it much more slowly, allowing it to build up to toxic levels in their system. If you see your dog eat a raisin or grape, induce vomiting as soon as you can… Why not chocolate? 0. Can Chickens Eat Chocolate. The Theobromine in chocolate is also dangerous to humans. Chances are good if you looked this up, you already suspected caffeine might be the issue with chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine a stimulant. A lethal dosage of chocolate for a human being is about 22lb (or 40 bars of Dairy Milk). Even though they’re less likely to try and steal it away from under your nose, chocolate is still bad for cats, just as it is for dogs. In dogs, cats, rats and other … Learn here. Chocolate contains cocoa, and cocoa contains the compound theobromine. No one really knows why grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs, yet they are. Though it's better to keep them away from these foods just for good measure. Dogs cannot metabolize theobromine and caffeine as well as humans can. Source(s): has 4 rabbits.