Don’t offer your pet dog chocolates, even if it means hurting their feelings because when a bearded dragon starts to trust you, it will relax and close it eyes when you’re around. We know you love New Zealand’s best chocolates and want to share them with your furry friend. Still, in the best interests of your dog’s health, you need to deny the chocolate-based sweet treats despite your pet craving them. Feeding even the slightest amount may make your pet ill and wreck its health. Sometimes it may prove fatal too!
Since chocolates are potentially hazardous to your canine friends, it would be best if you didn’t place them anywhere in your paw pal’s vicinity. Allowing your pet dog to indulge in choc sweets and savouries can lead to poisoning, depending on the amount consumed. And it doesn’t take that much! If your pet companion somehow got its paws on a choc chip cookie and ate it, then rush to the vet right away with your pet. Use your dog insurance Nz policy to claim the vet visit charges and any treatment bills or prescriptions.
Pet health insurance comes to your rescue in tormenting times like these. At least you don’t have to worry about the financial implications of such an incident. Depending on your level of coverage, your insurer may reimburse the money you have spent getting your pet treated for chowing down chocolate munchies. Still, as a dog parent, you need to know why these sugar-packed treats aren’t great for your pet’s health. Stash them away so only your greedy human companions can delight in snacking on them. Here’s why…
What are the reasons to forbid your pet dog from munching on chocolates?
- One of the ingredients that make up chocolates is – “Theobromine” (similar to “Caffeine” in coffee). Unfortunately, your four-legged friend can’t metabolize and assimilate this compound as humans do.
- Theobromine is highly toxic to your canine’s gut, kidneys, heart, and central nervous system (CNS).
- The pure chocolate varieties and darker variants have high compositions of theobromine. However, even the milk chocolates contain some amounts of it.
- The impact of chocolate poisoning depends on the dog’s size and the type and quantity of chocolate consumed, as well as the pup’s overall state of health.
What happens when your dog eats up a generous amount of chocolate?
- Your dog may vomit on its own. If not, you may have to take him to the vet to induce vomiting.
- Remember that it may take about six to twelve hours for symptoms to appear. So, don’t wait for that long before you decide to pay a vet visit.
- The most common symptoms include – extreme thirst, restlessness, hyperactivity, pacing, rapid breathing, shaking, elevated heart rate, seizures, diarrhea.
- Sometimes, in critical cases, the symptoms last for about 72 hours. So treating your dog early reduces his suffering and medical care costs too, as well as the risk of death by poisoning.
How to protect your dog from such disasters?
- We recommend you to be vigilant when you have chocolates and pets around in the same room! Don’t leave cocoa powder, chocolate snacks, chews, and syrup bottles lying on top of tables, low shelves, etc. It is best if you place them in high kitchen cabinets that have lockable doors.
- Be extra careful on holidays and special occasions when chocolates are abundantly available at home. For instance, secure the trick or treat bags on Halloween day, keep the easter baskets covered, place the candy-filled Christmas stockings and other chocolate gifts out of reach, and so on.
- Train your pet dog to stay away from things using the command “Leave it!” – a brilliant way to teach your pet not to eat food dropped on the floor or forbidden stuff at home.
- Crate train your pet, so your dog is comfortable in his hideout and doesn’t wish to get out of it when you are not around. Choose a large crate and fill it with his choicest toys and delectable treats to make it a haven for him while you enjoy your choc indulgence.
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If your pet dog ends up eating a chocolate chunk despite you exercising great caution, then take him to the vet immediately or contact the nearest pet emergency clinic if the incident occurred at an odd hour. Pet health insurance helps you provide for your pet dog quality medical care after accidents or in times of emergencies. With dog insurance Nz, your pet is assured of excellent health care through the good and bad days alike.