"You should never give pets chocolate, because it is toxic to most of them. But my cat is obsessed with it, and is all over me when I'm eating it, so sometimes I give her a sliver. Just and itsy-bitsy, tiny one."
Another example of us not necessarily following our own rules. Yes, we are human. We have pets that get table food sometimes. Some of us even *gasp* have overweight pets. (Insert grin here)
Chocolate can be quite toxic to dogs. They do not process the caffeine and another component- theobromine- the way we do, and it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, increased heart rate, anxiety , and even death. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Chocolate covered coffee beans- well, let's not go there.
I am not certain how toxic chocolate is for cats. I've never had reason to check before. There are other things to avoid in cats- over the counter pain medications, especially acetaminophen (Tylenol), garlic and onions, can be deadly. So proceed with caution. A bite of this or that, the last of the milk and cereal in your bowl, is not likely to do harm.
And as for dogs- keep the chocolate put up. And the coffee. And the grapes, raisins, raw meat, bones. Sugarless gum with xylitol can cause severe low blood sugar. Potential toxicities abound, so dog-proof the larder.
Enjoy your pets!
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