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                         November 2, 2001

Pet Pointers

A weekly pet tip or other bit of information
from Capt. Felicia D. Langel, USMA Veterinarian 938-3817

Be careful to keep Halloween candy away from your pet. While a small amount of candy is harmless, a candy "overdose" can be very dangerous for an animal. Of particular concern is chocolate.

Chocolate contains a chemical that, in large quantities, is very toxic to animals. The chemical, called theobromine, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, staggering and finally, coma. Milk chocolate contains a faily small amount of theobromine. Baker’s chocolate, on the other hand, is about 300 percent more toxic.

If your pet eats a small amount of milk chocolate, you should not be concerned. But it’s a good idea to keep richer chocolate out of reach. If your pet does ingest something it shouldn’t, call the clinic for advice on what to do.