Can dogs eat cocoa butter?
This dog blog will answer the major question, “Can dogs eat cocoa butter?” we will also discuss the unhealthy effects of cocoa butter on your dog’s health, what you can do if your dog ate too much cocoa butter, and what are the sources of cocoa butter for your dog.
Can dogs eat cocoa butter?
No, dogs cannot eat cocoa butter. It is not safe for your dog to consume cocoa butter because it has a high amount of fat content which can cause obesity and pancreatitis. It also has methylxanthine which can be very toxic for your dog. The major sources of cocoa butter are vegetable oil and skin lotion.
What are the unhealthy effects of cocoa butter on your dog’s health?
Following are the unhealthy effects of cocoa butter on your dog’s health:
Obesity is lethal for your dog
The first thing is obesity in your dog which is due to the consumption of high-fat content that is in cocoa butter. Obesity has several consequences. The first one is chronic joint pain which is due to the increased pressure on the joints of the body. This causes inflammation of the joints of the body.
Following are the major clinical signs of arthritis in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Immobility
- Joint pain
- Reluctant to move
- Swelling of joints
Heart problems are dangerous for dogs
The next thing is the heart problems in your dog. Heart problems are due to the deposition of fat content in the arteries of the heart. The fat droplets will block the major arteries of the heart which will put immense pressure on the heart that can lead to a heart attack in your dog.
The heart is a very delicate organ of the body and you should work to protect your dog from a heart attack.
Pancreatitis is painful for dogs
The next thing is pancreatitis in your dog. The pancreas is the major organ of the body which is involved in the release of enzymes and hormones. The pancreas plays an important role in the hormonal balance of the body.
The inflammation of the pancreas is due to the consumption of high-fat content in the body. Following are the major clinical signs of pancreatitis in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
Your dog will take a characteristic preying position during an episode of pancreatic pain.
Methylxanthine toxicity in your dog
The next thing is the methylxanthine toxicity in your dog which is due to consuming cocoa which has a lower level of methylxanthine in it.
Methylxanthine is easily cleared from the body of human beings but it is not easily cleared from the body of dogs and that is why it is important for you to keep the chocolates away from your dog.
Following are the major clinical signs of methylxanthine toxicity in your dog:
- Decreased appetite
- Seizures
- Convulsions
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Stomach upset in your dog
The next thing is stomach upset in your dog which is very common when your dog consumes too much of something or your dog consumes something new which is not a part of the regular diet of your dog.
Following are the major clinical signs of stomach upset in your dog:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
What are the sources of cocoa butter for your dog?
Following are the main sources of cocoa butter for your dog:
- The first one is the moisturizing lotion for humans which is the most common source of cocoa butter. If your dog has licked you when you have applied moisturizing lotion then it might be due to the taste of the cocoa butter which is attractive to your dog.
- The next source is vegetable oil which is used in the cooking process of food. It is readily available in the kitchen and those dogs have a greater chance of being exposed to it who are always in search of food in the kitchen.
What can you do if your dog ate too much cocoa butter?
The first thing is not to panic in this situation. Analyze the behavior of your dog for 24 hours and if you see any abnormal behavior in your dog you should call your vet.
Listen carefully to the advice of your vet and act according to the advice of your vet. If your vet tells you to bring your dog to the vet hospital please do not hesitate to do it.
Conclusion
In this dog blog, we answered the main query, “Can dogs eat cocoa butter?” we also discussed the unhealthy effects of cocoa butter on your dog’s health, what you can do if your dog ate too much cocoa butter, and what are the sources of cocoa butter for your dog.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/cocoa-butter-benefits
