Can Chocolate Be Toxic To Cats?
Although chocolate can be toxic to cats, it is not very common. In general, cats – carnivores by nature – do not tend to have a sweet tooth. However, feline curiosity can ‘win’ the game and induce them to nibble on chocolate treats, especially in young kittens.
Why can chocolate be toxic to cats?
First of all, common ingredients in chocolate preparations like sugar, xylitol – a substitute for sugar – and the fat content are not good for cats.
But the most dangerous components of chocolate for the health of cats are caffeine and theobromine. Theobromine is a bitter-tasting vegetable alkaloid, naturally found in cocoa.
Theobromine and caffeine are stimulant substances that belong to the methylxanthine family. In cats, these compounds act on the cardiac and neuronal systems.
Importantly, these substances are absorbed quickly in cats , but metabolized very slowly. Consequently, the rate of removal of the substance is slow. This fact makes theobromine in cats exert its pharmacological effect for a longer time.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Cats
Clinical signs generally occur within 6 to 12 hours after ingestion. The toxicity of theobromine contained in chocolate causes vomiting and diarrhea in cats. Its action on the heart induces a sudden and pronounced increase in heart rate.
There may also be a rise in temperature and seizures. In this poisoning, death is generally due to cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory failure.
Another serious complication associated with the consumption of chocolate is pancreatitis. This is an inflammation of the pancreas that causes abdominal pain, lethargy and anorexia. Pancreatitis is a potential sequela that can occur 24 to 72 hours after ingestion.
Additionally, pancreatitis can precede fatty liver disease, a very serious and life-threatening liver condition.
How much chocolate is too much?
The lethal dose of chocolate for a cat is calculated in relation to the body weight of the feline, the amount of theobromine in the chocolate product that it has eaten and the amount of the product that it ingested.
Sugar-free baking chocolate contains the most theobromine, followed by dark chocolate and then milk chocolate. White chocolate has a negligible amount of theobromine, but it often has higher levels of fat and sugar.
Perhaps the easiest rule of thumb would be to think that 30 grams of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose in cats. The bottom line is that a feline that eats a couple of chocolate chips shouldn’t have a problem, although it’s not a good habit. But a cat addicted to chocolate can have more than just a problem.
Medical treatment for your pet
If your cat has eaten chocolate, call your vet immediately. Medical treatment for chocolate poisoning generally involves inducing vomiting within two hours of eating chocolate. Induction of vomiting can be dangerous in cats; do not attempt this without the recommendation of your vet.
There is no specific antidote for this toxin. Theobromine takes several days to excrete from the body, so hospitalization and supportive care may be necessary.
Depending on the amount ingested, your vet may recommend activated charcoal by mouth to bind and prevent further absorption of theobromine from the gastrointestinal tract. He may also prescribe the administration of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration, replenish electrolytes, and promote flushing of the toxin out of the system.
In addition, anticonvulsant medications, antiemetics for nausea and vomiting, and medications to control your heart rate may be prescribed.
