October is one of the most exciting months of the year: the weather finally starts to turn, football is in full swing, and, of course, the Halloween candy comes out by the bagful!  While the vast majority of us love the influx of chocolate that occurs this time every year, it is important to remember that our pets should not indulge along with us!

Chocolate contains both caffeine and theobromine.  Unfortunately, dogs and cats are unable to properly digest either of these elements. Different forms of chocolate hold varied amounts of these elements.  As a general rule, the more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.  Unsweetened baking chocolate is almost 7 times as toxic as milk chocolate, and white chocolate is by far the least toxic.

Most dogs will develop vomiting and diarrhea after eating any chocolate, even when it has not been in toxic amounts.  In addition, the dog may develop an increased thirst, increased urination and lethargy.  When the chocolate has been digested in toxic amounts it primarily affects the nervous system, causing hyperactivity, increased heart rates, tremors, seizures, and eventually death.

If your pet does eat chocolate, call your vet as soon as possible.  If possible, make a note of the amount and the type of the chocolate so that you can tell your vet.  Your vet will be able to calculate the amount of chocolate that your dog has actually eaten and help decide if the dog will need further treatment.