Warning to all reptile owners: lizards should not eat chocolate.
Ciocolata conține teobromină, a compound that is toxic to reptiles. Theobromine is very bad for lizards and can make them extemely sick.
Becauses of this, chocolate can cause a number of health problems in lizards, including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, și even death.
Diferite tipuri de șopârle, cum ar fi iguanele, skinks, bearded dragons and tegus can eat a variety of “human” food that ranges from vegetables to fruits and in some cases even eggs, peşte, și produse din carne.
But when it comes to heavily processed foods like include chocolate, cel mai bine este să te gândești de două ori înainte de a le hrăni animalului tău de companie.
Even a small amount of chocolate can be harmful to a lizard.
The general consensus it that chocolate is not safe for consumption by lizards or reptiles of any kind.
De fapt, there are very few species animals in the world that can digest chocolate, because of some compounds and chemicals contained in it.
Chocolate is toxic to reptiles
Ciocolata conține teobromină, a chemical similar to caffeine, which causes heart palpitations, blood vessels dilatation, muscle relaxation and has a diuretic effect.
In humans, this chemical is easily digested and doesn’t stay in a person’s metabolism long enough to have negative effects; in other species of animals, in orice caz, this can lead to health complications and even death.
Simply put, the reason chocolate is toxic to lizards is that their metabolism is slower than that of humans, and the chemicals in chocolate stay in their body for much longer.
Reptiles have even slower metabolisms than mammals, which is why feeding chocolate to lizards and snakes is strongly discouraged.
Furthermore, many chocolate treats contain high amounts of refined sugars and/or dairy, which reptiles cannot digest and can lead to a variety of other health complications.
Do lizards like chocolate?
Some people claim that their Argentine Tegu lizards or bearded dragons love chocolate and are able to eat it without health complications. This is risky and should be avoided.
Large lizards may be able to ingest small amounts of chocolate without problems, but their body will still take longer and have more difficulty digesting and getting rid of the potentially toxic compounds in chocolate.
If lizards show appreciation for a chocolate treat, it is usually because of the added sugars and sweeteners in it, not because of the cocoa itself.
These artificial sweeteners and refined sugars are not healthy and can lead to yet another series of health complications such as obesity.
The best thing you can do to sooth your pet’s sweet tooth is to replace chocolate with fruits such as bananas, fructe de padure, and grapes.
These are high in natural sugars which are much easier to digest, but should still be offered as a treat and not on a regular basis.
What to do if your lizard ate some chocolate
În cele mai multe cazuri, if your pet lizard accidentally eats small amount of chocolate there is no need to panic.
If the snack contained dairy (such as in the case of milk chocolate), then your lizard will likely experience an upset stomach, but will recover quickly.
If large amounts of chocolate have been consumed, seek the assistance of a vet ASAP.
Early symptoms of chocolate poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity, and health palpitations. The most severe cases can lead to seizure and death.
Chocolate is a tempting treat for humans, but it is important to remember that it is not safe for our pets.
Lizards are particularly sensitive to theobromine, a compound found in chocolate that can cause a number of health problems, inclusiv convulsii și deces.
Even a small amount of chocolate can be harmful to a lizard, so it is best to avoid feeding them this treat altogether.
If you think your lizard has eaten chocolate, it is important to contact your veterinarian immediately.
PetsWithScales.com este un site web informativ despre îngrijirea animalelor de companie mari șopârle. Colectăm și oferim informații din diferite surse de pe web despre cum să păstrăm și să îngrijim reptilele ca animale de companie. Speciile cu care ne ocupăm în principal sunt tegus, șopârle monitor, scinci și gecoși. Scopul nostru este de a oferi informații de înaltă calitate pentru a ajuta proprietarii de animale de companie să se îmbunătățească, decizii mai informate cu privire la dieta animalelor lor, sanatate si viata.