What is dog chocolate made of that makes it safe for them to eat?

Question from Nicole Burke

Chocolate contains a toxic substance called theobromine, which human bodies can process quickly but pooches cannot. If they get their paws on chocolate it can be fatal. However, there is a safe substitute that’s used in some dog treats. It’s called carob – a brown powder extracted from the pods of a carob tree, which is native to the Mediterranean. The fact that it doesn’t contain theobromine means it’s non-toxic to dogs, but its sweet flavour means they won’t be able to tell the difference.


Answered by Jodie Tyler for Brain Dump in How It Works issue 122 

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