Editing Chocolate (section)

====Non-human animals====
{{Main|Theobromine poisoning}}

In sufficient amounts, the theobromine found in chocolate is [[toxic]] to animals such as cats, dogs, horses, parrots, and small rodents because they are unable to [[Metabolism|metabolize]] the chemical effectively.<ref>{{cite book |author=Smit HJ |chapter=Theobromine and the Pharmacology of Cocoa |title=Methylxanthines |year=2011 |volume=200 |issue= <!-- -->|pages=201–34 |doi= 10.1007/978-3-642-13443-2_7|pmid=20859797 |series=Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology |isbn=978-3-642-13442-5 }}</ref> If animals are fed chocolate, the theobromine may remain in the circulation for up to 20&nbsp;hours, possibly causing [[epileptic seizure]]s, [[myocardial infarction|heart attacks]], [[internal bleeding]], and eventually death. Medical treatment performed by a [[veterinarian]] involves inducing [[vomiting]] within two hours of ingestion and administration of [[benzodiazepine]]s or [[barbiturate]]s for seizures, [[antiarrhythmic agents|antiarrhythmics]] for [[cardiac arrhythmia|heart arrhythmias]], and [[forced diuresis|fluid diuresis]].

A typical {{convert|20|kg|lb|adj=on}} dog will normally experience great intestinal distress after eating less than {{convert|240|g|oz}} of dark chocolate, but will not necessarily experience [[bradycardia]] or [[tachycardia]] unless it eats at least a half a kilogram (1.1&nbsp;lb) of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has 2 to 5 times more theobromine and thus is more dangerous to dogs. According to the [[Merck Veterinary Manual]], approximately 1.3&nbsp;grams of baker's chocolate per kilogram of a dog's body weight (0.02&nbsp;oz/lb) is sufficient to cause symptoms of toxicity. For example, a typical {{convert|25|g|oz|adj=on}} baker's chocolate bar would be enough to bring about symptoms in a {{convert|20|kg|lb|adj=on}} dog.  In the 20th century, there were reports that [[mulch]] made from cocoa bean shells is dangerous to dogs and livestock.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Drolet |first1=R |last2=Arendt |first2=TD |last3=Stowe |first3=CM |title=Cacao bean shell poisoning in a dog |journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |volume=185 |issue=8 |pages=902 |year=1984 |doi=10.2460/javma.1984.185.08.902 |pmid=6501051 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blakemore |first1=F |last2=Shearer |first2=GD |title=The poisoning of livestock by cacao products |journal=Veterinary Record |year=1943 |volume=55 |issue=15 |pages=165 }}</ref>