You’ve probably heard chocolate is dangerous for dogs, but did you know why? Here’s what the issue is.

Q: Why is chocolate toxic to dogs, and what should I do if my dog eats some?

A: For those of us who love chocolate and know about the health benefits of dark chocolate, it’s hard to imagine that it could be toxic to our best friends.

Lots of dogs love the taste of chocolate, based on the number of them that I hear about who have broken into the Halloween stash, holiday gift boxes of the stuff, and Valentine’s Day sweets, but chocolate doesn’t love them back.

Chocolate contains both caffeine and a substance called theobromine. Both are plant alkaloids, mildly stimulating to humans, but toxic to dogs; they aren’t able to process theobromine as efficiently as humans.

You may have heard of dogs who eat, say, a whole pan of brownies with no ill effects. That’s because chocolate’s toxic effects — known as chocolate toxicosis — vary by size of the dog, amount and type of chocolate eaten, and individual sensitivity.

The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is. That doesn’t mean that milk chocolate is safe. One ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is a potentially lethal dose in dogs.

Dogs who ingest chocolate may start to vomit, have diarrhea or become unusually thirsty within six to 12 hours. Other signs include restlessness, a distended abdomen, seizures, a racing heart (tachycardia), and high or low blood pressure. Dogs who are highly sensitive to theobromine or who ingest cocoa powder or unsweetened baking chocolate can die from cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthermia or respiratory failure.

Another factor is the possible presence of xylitol, a sugar alcohol, in some chocolate products. It’s highly toxic to dogs and may be of more concern than chocolate itself. When in doubt, call a pet poison hotline.

There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Cats with osteoarthritis have a new option for pain relief. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Solensia (frunevetmab), an injectable medication that is the first treatment for control of pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats. The cat-specific monoclonal antibody, a type of protein, works by recognizing and attaching to a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) that is involved in the regulation of pain. When frunevetmab binds to NGF, it prevents the pain signal from reaching the brain, according to the FDA.

“Treatment options for cats with osteoarthritis are very limited. Advancements in modern veterinary medicine have been instrumental in extending the lives of many animals, including cats. But with longer lives come chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis,” said Steven M. Solomon, M.P.H., D.V.M., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Today’s approval marks the first treatment option to help provide relief to cats that are suffering from this condition and may significantly improve their quality of life.”

There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.

Here’s what you need to know about whether or not your pooch’s symptoms indicate their gastrointestinal tract is blocked by something they ate. You know… like socks, dog toys, rubber duckies….

Q: My Lab puppy is vomiting, he doesn’t want to eat and he’s not his usual active self. What could be going on?

A: Just the words “Lab puppy” offer a clue. As a veterinarian with more than 40 years’ experience, I am still amazed at the variety of things dogs — especially puppies and especially Labs — will put into their mouths and swallow: dish towels, socks, rubber ducks, knives or wooden skewers. Young Labs are some of the worst offenders, but any dog is capable of eating something that results in an obstruction.

And an obstruction could certainly be your pup’s problem. Foreign bodies, as nonfood objects are known, might pass through the gastrointestinal tract without you ever knowing the item was swallowed (unless you notice it when you pick up poop), but sometimes they get stuck — and that’s when the trouble starts.

Clues that a dog might have an obstruction include vomiting, regurgitation (when food comes right back up after your dog has eaten), appetite loss, lethargy or just seeming “off” (the veterinary term for this is ADR, or ain’t doin’ right). A dog who’s gagging, coughing or pawing at the mouth or neck might have something stuck in the esophagus — the tube that carries food to the stomach.

If your dog has a habit of eating things he shouldn’t and shows any of these signs, it’s a good idea to take him to the veterinarian to check for an obstruction.

Depending on the results of the exam and diagnostic tests and whether you know what the dog may have eaten, the vet may recommend a wait-and-see approach, giving pumpkin to see if that helps move the object along or immediate surgery.

There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.