So, Can Goats Eat Chocolate?

If you have goats, you have probably felt the temptation to give them a little taste of the foods you enjoy. But, there is just one issue: goats are herbivores (intermediate browsers, to be precise) once they reach maturity.

But wait! Chocolate is technically made from plants. It is made from cocoa, and cocoa comes from plants. Hence, goats might be able to have chocolate. Sounds foolproof! So, can goats eat chocolate?

No, goats should not eat chocolate. Chocolate can be highly toxic to goats. The theobromine and caffeine in chocolate are both poisonous to them, and can cause serious health problems like diarrhea, and seizure. Death is a possible outcome in severe cases.

It is best to keep chocolate and cocoa-containing treats away from your goats. As a fun fact, feeding cocoa bean shells have been shown not to directly affect them in spite of the theobromine content in the shells, but even the authors warn against the compound.

If you’re looking for treats to give your goat, there are plenty you can give them, but chocolate is not one of them. Keep reading to learn all of the facts why chocolate is a no-go for goats.

Chocolate and Cocoa Contain Theobromine and Caffeine

The main compounds in chocolate that are dangerous to goats are theobromine and caffeine, with caffeine being part of the reason why chocolate is so pleasurable for people to eat.

Theobromine and caffeine are both diuretics, meaning they increase urination. At high enough doses and for a long enough time, this can lead to dehydration, which is can be dangerous for mammal, including goats.

Both can also cause an irregular heartbeat, tremors and seizures in some mammals. In large enough quantities, they can be fatal.

Theobromine is Toxic for Many Mammals, Including Goats

Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant, found primarily in cocoa and chocolate.

While it’s is generally safe for humans to eat, it is poisonous for some mammals since their livers cannot cope with it very well. In large doses, though, theobromine can be acutely toxic to them…

The problem is that theobromine is often found in things that taste good, things animals, including goats, will eat. It can easily result in severe poisoning if the animals eat a high enough dose.

Symptoms of Theobromine Poisoning

While there isn’t much data (yet) on how theobromine affects goats, the symptoms of theobromine poisoning in dogs include restlessness, agitation, hypertension, tachycardia, and diuresis.

In layman’s terms, that means your goat will have an increased heart rate, tremors and will urinate more often. If the poisoning is severe enough, it can also cause seizures, coma and death.

What Should You Do if Your Goat Has Eaten Chocolate?

The good news is that theobromine poisoning can be reversed if you catch it early enough. And the first steps to doing that are to stop feeding them the problematic food, and call your vet pronto!

Follow their instructions, do exactly as they say, and be sure to tell them the exact product you fed them, and how much.

Keep an eye on the goat and watch for any symptoms. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water to drink.

Out of an abundance of caution or when more severe poisoning is suspected, your vet will want you to bring the goat in for treatment.

They might decide give the goat activated charcoal to help absorb the toxins. Its use has been documented but this particular study says that “The decision to administer activated charcoal should be carefully considered”.

They may also give IV fluids to help keep the goat hydrated. In some cases, they may could give medications to control seizures or heart rate.

Chocolate is potentially poisonous to goats and can be deadly. If your goat has eaten chocolate, even in small quantities, call your vet immediately. The sooner you get them treatment, the better the odds are for a recovery.

Chocolate is Also Highly Caloric and Sugary

If the toxicity of chocolate wasn’t bad enough, it is also very high in sugar and calories. Chocolate is not a natural food for goats and is not something they should be eating on a regular basis, if at all.

Over time, excess calories will make goats gain weight, and high sugar can mess up their digestive system and lead to all sorts of problems like diarrhea, bloat, and colic.

Even if your goat somehow manages to avoid or survive the toxicity of chocolate, it is still not a good idea to let them eat it.

How Much Chocolate is Harmful for Goats?

There is no established toxic dose of theobromine for adult goats varies (only dogs), so it’s just best to assume that any dose can cause trouble.

The type of chocolate makes a difference, too, since darker chocolate contains more theobromine. Again, there aren’t specific numbers to show toxicity that you can depend on, so don’t take any chances. Goats should never have any amount of chocolate, period!

Cooking May Not Make Chocolate Safe

In case you were wondering, the toxicity of theobromine is not guaranteed to diminish by heat or lengthy cooking. Sure, theobromine in cocoa powder can be reduced with cooking, but that’s still not good enough. Any kind of baked goods made with chocolate are still harmful.

Kids are Very Vulnerable to Theobromine Poisoning

Of particular concern, kids (baby goats) can be even more vulnerable to the effects of theobromine. The logic is simple: they are small, so it doesn’t take much chocolate to reach toxic levels in their system. Again, don’t do it!