Healthy Dark Chocolate For People

Healthy Dark Chocolate For People, Not
For Pets
You love it! I love it! Dark chocolate is so treasured that it is the primary gift for several
holidays, the most coveted of bed pillow treats, the subject of theme parties, and the most
decadent of desserts served. Heads turn and smiles emerge from hiding when the words "dark
chocolate" are spoken. Admit it. I bet you have a little dark chocolate secretly hidden away!
Fortunately, dark chocolate is incredibly healthy for people. It is a super food loaded with
antioxidants from the cacao bean powder ingredient. But not all dark chocolate is created
equal. In fact, Buy Dark Chocolate in Hawaii made by a new method of cold processing the
cacao beans maintains all the antioxidants for the finished product. The traditional method of
heat processing destroys most of the healthy antioxidants. But, regardless of the antioxidant
content, chocolate is only healthy for people. Dark chocolate is a wondrous gift to the palate,
heart, and soul of people just for being human. The delicious flavor of dark chocolate turns
sharply sour if it is eaten by your pet.
Dogs seem to be most commonly attracted to chocolates as they are well known to have a
sweet tooth. Other pets of any species though are equally at risk for illness or death if too
much chocolate is eaten. People, too, may become sick from eating too much chocolate. But
it is usually dogs who find whole baskets, sacks, or bowls of chocolate and eat it all.
Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, and some chocolates also contain
caffeine. The toxic effects of chocolate are caused primarily by theobromine and caffeine. As
a rule of thumb, the darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content. Caffeine
content is more variable. High fat content found in some chocolates can also put pets at risk
for severe inflammatory disease of their pancreas.
The most common early symptom of over eating chocolate may be life saving. Vomiting may
solve the problem of toxicity entirely if it occurs soon enough to remove the offending
chocolate. Vomiting is most effective within 90 minutes of ingestion, although it may still be
valuable later. Other noticeable symptoms that develop include excessive thirst, loose stool,
restlessness, and bellyache or bloating. These symptoms usually occur within 6 to 12 hours of
overeating. If the amount of theobromine in the chocolate is high enough, then more
dangerous symptoms affecting the heart (rapid heart rate, irregular beat rhythm,
hypertension) and brain (tremors, seizures, coma) may follow putting the pet at high risk of
death.
Obviously, if you know that your pet has eaten chocolate or if you are noticing symptoms
like those described, then immediate contact with your veterinarian, an emergency pet
hospital, or a poison control center for animals is warranted. The ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center phone number is 888-426-4435. Consultants are available 24 hours a day. The
ASPCA does charge a fee for consultation.
You, personally, can enjoy the many benefits of healthy dark chocolate. Reward yourself for
being human by eating healthy dark chocolate everyday! But remember how very important
is to protect your secret chocolate hideaway, and to protect your pets from the life-threatening
dangers that chocolate poses to them.