How Much Chocolate Can Kill A Cat?

As mentioned earlier, chocolate can be a source of health benefits or health problems for cats. If you are trying to wean your cat off milk-based beverages, then switching her/him to solid foods is the next step!

Making sure your kitty is eating all necessary nutrients is important as it could be finding an alternative to milk that is. One of the most common issues is when dogs get too much of a craving taste for chocolate.

For this article, we will talk about how much chocolate can kill a cat. While there are no guidelines stating how many grams of chocolate is too much for a kitten or adult cat, excess intake of cocoa products can have negative effects on them.

If you notice signs such as weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or swelling of various body parts, take action immediately.

Fortunately, there are ways to help treat these symptoms and find out what might need medical attention. Being aware of potential dangers of chocolate can keep your loved ones safe!

Disclaimer: The content in this article should not be used to diagnose or treat any disease, condition, or illness. Only speak with professionals who know about nutrition for your specific needs, etc. This article may contain statements which seem factual but are actually based on conjecture. We make no claims as to the effectiveness of this information. These statements were written by the authors for their personal use only and cannot be verified independently.

Know the signs of poisoning

how much chocolate can kill a cat

If you are ever confronted with a dead cat, don’t assume it is due to natural causes. A lot of times people claim that their dog or cat died from eating chocolate. While this may be true, it is very important to know the symptoms of chocolate ingestion in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

If your beloved pet was found dead with no clear cause of death, there is always the chance that they were poisoned. Even if your pet did not eat any chocolate, they could have been exposed to the toxin through open wounds or saliva.

In some cases, even though your pet didn’t ingest anything, you can still be held liable for causing their death. This is because finding a poison source can be difficult and requiring a license to handle chemicals means negligence.

Symptoms of Chocohol overdose include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, clumsiness, lack of coordination, drooling, depression, aggression, breathing problems, and heart failure.

Since chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine (a compound similar to methyltorin), both of which can induce cardiac arrest, knowing how much chocolate an animal has consumed is crucial in determining whether or not a person contributed to its death.

It is best to wait at least two hours after exposure before testing for substances as levels will likely drop. Depending upon the size of the animal, blood samples can be sent to a veterinary clinic or laboratory.

Get emergency help

how much chocolate can kill a cat

If you find your cat with their tongue hanging out, they are probably trying to lick something that looks like chocolate but is actually poison!

This happens especially in young cats who are still developing their taste buds.

Chocolate can be very tempting to a kitten or young cat, so even though it may look fake, some of it could actually be real.

Never give your cat any leftover food or snacks if you are going to go away for an extended period of time, as this may put them into a toxic state due to hunger.

If you have to leave your cat alone while you’re gone, make sure to take care of all of their needs, and keep a close eye on them. You can also try using a feeding bowl and spoon instead of letting them eat off the floor or bedding. This will prevent them from getting dirty and potentially ingesting anything harmful.

Source: VCA Veterinary Hospital – Pet Health Topics

Dr. Jessica O’Brien would like to add that if you do find suspected poisoned food, do not attempt to feed it to your pet! Call your vet right away so your loved one can be monitored and treated immediately.

She further emphasized that although there are sometimes legal uses for chocolate, eating too much of it can be deadly for humans and animals. The symptoms displayed by a poisoned animal depend on how much was ingested, so calling your veterinarian is the best option.

Do not try to treat a cat with chocolate

 

If you find your cat acting nervous or anxious, it is very important to look into whether they have been given any substances that could be harmful to them.

Chocolate is one of the most common reasons that cats become ill or even die from eating something bad for them. Even small amounts of chocolate can be enough to hurt or kill a kitten or adult cat.

If you discover your pet has eaten some chocolate, then immediately take them to the vet so that appropriate treatments can be administered.

Too often owners think that if their beloved cat seems a little down or depressed after having some food, then they should just let them eat what they want instead of taking action.

This may seem like a good idea at first, but unfortunately it can do more harm than good in the long run.

Call the veterinarian immediately

how much chocolate can kill a cat

If you find your cat eating large amounts of chocolate, it may be necessary to visit the vet right away to have them do an internal exam to determine if they need medical treatment.

If their stomach is full of liquid and they appear uncomfortable or are having trouble breathing, then they may require emergency veterinary care.

Make sure that you don’t try to give yourself some quick feel-good moment by holding the bag for him or her!

By seeking outside help as soon as possible, you will ensure that your beloved pet receives the best possible care.

Follow up with the vet

how much chocolate can kill a cat

Even if your cat does not get sick directly from eating too much chocolate, it may be important to see how they are feeling otherwise. If you notice changes in their behavior or mood, make an appointment immediately!

Your veterinarian can also do some tests to determine whether there have been any health problems caused by the excessive amount of cocoa. These include full blood work testing for signs of disease, urinalysis to check for kidney issues, and fecal analysis looking for potential digestive problems.

It is always best to bring your dog or cat to the clinic so that they do not feel stressed when being examined. Luckily, veterinary clinics now offer stress-free exam rooms!

If your pet has shown symptoms such as depression, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or other changes in activity, sleep pattern, and/or appetite, then test them for possible food allergies. A few days before visiting the doctor, remove all forms of chocolate (bars, cakes, cookies, etc.) and see what effects this has.

By doing this, you will find out if your pet is allergic to chocolate, and therefore needs allergy medication or diet tips to help restore his or her internal balance.

Seek help from a veterinary expert

how much chocolate can kill a cat

If you find your cat acting strangely or having symptoms such as lethargy, lack of activity, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and/or respiratory issues, take them to the vet right away!

Some chocolate contains enough chemicals that can poison your pet even if they are not ingested directly. Some products claim to be “healthier” than other brands, but unless they have the same amount of cocoa powder in them, they may actually be more harmful due to the higher sugar content.

Chocolate is frequently used as a reward for good behavior, so giving it up at this time may prove difficult. It is important to speak with your friends and family about any worries you have for their health, as well as their emotional state.

Chocolate contains theobromine

how much chocolate can kill a cat

The second most important ingredient in chocolate is thebromamine, also known as theobromine. This compound stimulates your heart to beat faster!

The average bar of milk chocolate has between 20-40 mg of theobromine. Some speciality dark chocolates can have twice that amount! That’s why one teaspoon (5 ml) of plain white chocolate makes your heart race for an hour – it’s got the same level of theobromine as a whole bar!

But too much theobromine can be bad for your health. Cats are no different than humans when it comes to how much theobromine they need.

A small amount of theobromine helps keep your heartbeat steady. But if you eat enough chocolate, then too much bromamine can increase your blood pressure and stress hormone levels. These changes may make it harder to sleep and cause you to feel anxious or stressed out.

For this reason, there are some guidelines about how many grams of theobromine per day is safe for cats. An easy way to remember these is that the number before the word ‘cat” is three times the amount needed for humans.

That means a cat eating five kilos (11 pounds) of chocolate a week would be allowed three times the recommended allowance for human consumption.

Theobromine is a stimulant

how much chocolate can kill a cat

The second most common compound in chocolate is the chemical called theobromine. The amount of theobromine in a bar of chocolate can vary quite a bit, however, you can always tell how much by looking at it.

The level of theobromine in a given batch of chocolate makes no difference to how sweet the chocolate is, nor does it affect whether or not you like the chocolate. It’s also not related to cocoa butter, which some people may want to add into the mix.

What does make a difference is how much theobromine a cat eats. Because cats are bigger than humans, they need proportionally more chocolate per weight to achieve the same effect. For example, a human eating one square (four grams) of dark chocolate would have the same amount of theobromine as a cat eating two squares (eight grams).

Because dogs do not get the same levels of theobromine in their diet as cats, they are less likely to experience heart rhythm problems due to too much of the drug present.

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