Stop! Don't give your cat that Chocolate...

Written by Larry Chamberlain


"Where'srepparttar harm? My cat seems to enjoy chocolate and it's only a small piece."

Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are suitable for cats. Chocolate contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for cats and other domestic pets, these chemicals can, in rare cases, be deadly.

One problem is that cats in general find chocolate very tasty and so, it is important not to feed it to them, otherwise they will eat what you give them up torepparttar 111162 point where it poisons them.

Chocolate containsrepparttar 111163 compound theobromine which is a diuretic as well as a cardiac stimulant. This can causerepparttar 111164 pet's heart rate to increase or it may causerepparttar 111165 heart to beat irregularly, both of which can be dangerous torepparttar 111166 animal. The level of theobromine present in chocolate varies depending onrepparttar 111167 type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains higher levels than milk chocolate and so could pose a greater risk to your pet.

There are many problems that can result from feeding a cat chocolate. Chocolate is relatively high in calories so it can contribute torepparttar 111168 development of obesity in your cat. A cat can lose its appetite for it's normal food if it eats chocolate. The largest problem is thoughrepparttar 111169 fact that chocolate containsrepparttar 111170 chemical theobromine as mentioned above. If this chemical builds up inrepparttar 111171 cats system, it can be potentially lethal, and one reason for this is that cats cannot clear theobromine from their bodies as quickly as people can.

Triumphing Over Tantrums

Written by Patty Hone


Before you had kids you probably witnessed an out of control child having a temper tantrum atrepparttar store. More than likely you thought or said, "If that was my child, I would ______". Well now here you are with children of your own dealing with these exact situations. Temper tantrums are a normal part of life with toddlers and preschoolers. Almost all young children have tantrums occasionally. If handled appropriately, most children outgrow this stage by four or five.

Some children have severe tantrums and may get so upset that they vomit or hold their breath until they pass out. Although this can be extremely upsetting torepparttar 111161 parent,repparttar 111162 child will generally recover quickly and completely. If your child is fainting or vomiting from tantrums, you may want to consult your pediatrician to check for any other health concerns.

How you handle tantrums will have a direct impact onrepparttar 111163 frequency and intensity ofrepparttar 111164 tantrums. Here are some tips on preventing tantrums and how to respond to them.

Make sure your child is not over-tired. If she is cranky or tired put her down for a nap or try doing some quiet time. You can lay down inrepparttar 111165 bed and read a book or play soothing music to help her relax.

Be consistent with your rules. If she has a tantrum and you give in to her demands, she will try this again. The more consistent you are,repparttar 111166 more she will learn that tantrums don't work.

When you ask your child to do something, try asking nicely first. "Mommy needs some help picking uprepparttar 111167 toys" usually goes over better than "get in here and pick up this mess!"

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