| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
Stop! Dont Give Your Cat That Chocolate!
"Where's the harm? My cat seems to enjoy chocolate and it's only a small piece." Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are suitable for cats. Chocolate contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for cats and other domestic pets, these chemicals can, in rare cases, be deadly. One problem is that cats in general find chocolate very tasty and so, it is important not to feed it to them, otherwise they will eat what you give them up to the point where it poisons them. Chocolate contains the compound theobromine which is a diuretic as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can cause the pet's heart rate to increase or it may cause the heart to beat irregularly, both of which can be dangerous to the animal. The level of theobromine present in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet. There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can contribute to the development of obesity in your cat. A cat can lose its appetite for it's normal food if it eats chocolate. The largest problem is though the fact that chocolate contains the chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical builds up in the cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their bodies as quickly as people can. Many cat owners would simply expect their pet to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate but few realize its lethal potential. Further problems which can arise from chocolate poisoning are Diuresis (increased urine production), diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, depression, and muscle tremors. These are signs which must be recognized by any cat owner so that the cat is not fed too much chocolate. Treatment for chocolate poisoning in its advanced stage can be very unpleasant for both the cat andthe owner of the cat, so it is much better to be safe and to cut down chocolate consumption of your cat to a minimum. If you do have worries that your cat has consumed large quantities of human chocolate it would be wise to consult your vet - pronto. Spotting the symptoms early on can be very beneficial and can give the cat a much better chance of surviving any poisoning which may have occurred. If you wish to feed your cat chocolate, there are alternate "chocolate" treats for cats which are produced by some pet food manufacturers. They will either use a vegetable substitute made to taste and look like chocolate, or they will take out the theobromine, or use greatly reduced, safe levels in the chocolate treats they produce. While a very small amount of chocolate may not be harmful to some cats, it is always safest to avoid giving any to them at all. About The Author If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com. Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends. Larry@best-cat-art.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ... - Washington Post
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Should I Adopt A Pet Over the past couple of years, animal rescues have been gaining popularity and support from all sorts of pet lovers. Basically what rescues do is take in animals and adopt them out to loving homes. Two Tails Are Better Than One Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now that's a handful. If you have puppies then break out the biscuits and get ready for some serious repetition. Cat Arthritis Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy cats. Most arthritis found in cats is from an accident that has made the bones or joints weak. 7 Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe On Halloween Dogs & Kids: Happy Together Dogs and kids, it's a combination that at it's best can be the stuff of childhood dreams. At it's worst, it can be a source of heartache and pain and even injury. The Top Five Reasons to Rescue a Boxer What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the thought of housebreaking, chewed up shoes and boundless puppy energy? Have you ever heard of Boxer rescue? These organizations provide loving care (and sometimes rehabilitation) to Boxers who have been surrendered by their owners, found abandoned or rescued from harmful situations.Too many people get a Boxer for the wrong reasons and thankfully there are rescue organizations to take these dogs into their homes and provide care until a forever family can be found. The Background and Use of Clicker Training For Dogs Presently, and throughout the 1990s a phenomena swept through the dog-lover's community. It was called "Clicker Training," and was implemented to teach dogs (along with horses and cats) that certain behaviors would be awarded, while others were not. The Importance of a Plan When Building a Reptile Cage Would you put together a model plane without looking at the finished plane picture or looking at the plans? Does a builder build a house without a plan?The answer to these is pretty clearly no. A homemade snake or other reptile cage is so much simpler though, you say. Animal Behavior: What is My Dog Saying? Dogs are quite amiable creatures. Much like our human counterparts, their speech is often amplified by their body movements and facial expressions. Whats the Real Deal on Pet Insurance? Even if you haven't had a run-in involving your pet of late, pet insurance has probably crossed your mind. And if you have, the bill for any non-routine care may have cost you anywhere from a cool couple hundred to nearly a grand. How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from a little grooming from her owner. Cats rarely need a bath, but frequent brushing removes a lot of loose hair which would otherwise end up either shed around your home or swallowed by the cat, creating constipating hairballs. Ticks On Your Dog: What to Do? Once though of as a mere harmless but annoying pest, ticks are of growing concern for their Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease-carrying ability. Learn the facts, and keep your dog tick and disease-free. Birdie Body Language Most parrot people are aware of some of the basic body language out companions use to communicate with us. But it's usually the more negative ones! However, our buddies use a multitude of moves to express lots of emotions, both positive and negative. Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 1 of 3 Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can't decide where to begin? If so, let's break it down and sort through all the options. Over a series of 3 unscientific articles, we'll begin by looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club. How To Avoid Bad Doggy Behavior, And Teach Your Puppy Some Manners A poorly trained dog can embarrass its owner and offend other people - or even make them feel threatened.Teaching your dog some manners is just common-sense. Lower Your Veterinarian Costs And Increase the Longevity of Your Pets Lives What does doing natural preventative care mean? I thought vaccinating, prevention medicines, and premium kibble was natural preventative care. Hardly. Chinese Shar Pei Character If you have never seen a Shar Pei before, the first impression might just as well be that of a kind, though independent, even arrogant clodhopper. Indeed, these dogs are often arrogant with strangers. Lemon Tetras Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish. Buy Dog Supplements Online Dog SupplementsA good nutritional program of dog supplements is just as important for your best pet friend as it is for us. Our pets have feelings, emotions, aches and pains just as we do. How to Choose the Right Bird Cage If the "tweet, tweet" of little beaks is in your future, bird cages are undoubtedly on your mind. Bird cages are available in every price range.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
