This is a question that has been asked of me several times. So, can baby goats eat chocolate? Can adult goats eat chocolate? If they did, what would be the consequences of them consuming this type of food?
“Chocolate contains caffeine and phenylethylamine which are stimulants that are bad for animals”, says Jerry Belanger, Professor Emeritus in animal science at Colorado State University. “Theobromine is more specific to the cocoa bean but it’s still a problem.”Theobromine causes an increase in heart rate, leads to neurological problems and causes death when consumed in enough quantity”.
“Chocolate contains two ingredients that are potentially harmful to goats: theobromine and caffeine. The severity of the effects depends upon the levels consumed and weight of the goat,” says Susan Schoenian, livestock specialist at the University of Maryland Extension. “The effects will be more pronounced in young animals than in mature animals.”
A couple of years back I had a doe who was about 4 months pregnant who ate dark chocolate (who knows how much she actually ate). She started showing mild signs such as increased heart rate, muscle tremors and alertness, similar to when we consume too much coffee. Luckily for me, this occurred late on a Saturday night/early Sunday morning so by Monday morning everything had returned to normal. Phew…
So, to answer the question … can goats eat chocolate? They sure can BUT you need to be careful with it.
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ToggleCan goats eat dark chocolate?
Yes they can but again you need to be careful with it. Ensure that the goat is milked before being given any form of cocoa product or dark chocolate. Milk the goat out completely so there are no traces left in the udder which could cause pain and discomfort if ingested by baby kids when they are born.
It would be best to give the goats their share of dark chocolate when they are done with milking for the day. Remember, cocoa is still caffeine and should be treated like regular coffee. The goat will get wired on it if given too much.
Can goats eat milk chocolate?
Yes, goats can eat milk chocolate. A goat is not just a simple domestic animal that eats only grass and hay. A goat is an omnivorous animal that can eat both plant-based food and meat-based food. This means that the goat will not get sick if you feed it with something different from its usual diet, especially in small quantities. But there are some things you should not give to your pet goat because they may make the goat sick or even fatality affect it. One of these things is milk chocolate. Let us explain why you should not give your pet goat milk chocolate, but also let’s see what would happen if this sweet treat ends up in your favorite four-legged friend’s mouth anyway!
Can goats eat white chocolate?
Yes, goats can eat white chocolate. White chocolate contains cocoa butter and cocoa powder, both of which are a good source of energy for a goat. The only ingredients that you should look out for when choosing treats to give your pet goat is molasses and sugar, since they have a high risk of making the goat sick.
Can goats eat chocolate ice cream?
Both dark chocolate and chocolate ice cream contain cocoa, but they also contain added sugar and/or oil that can harm your goat’s health in large quantities. You should definitely not let the dairy products enter the mouth of your pet since it makes them really sick with diarrhoea or vomiting. But you should be more worried about what happens if the goat eats the chocolate ice cream since its upper respiratory tract is very sensitive and can be affected by something as small as a dark chocolate flake!
Can goats eat brownie?
Yes, goats can eat brownies. Brownies are made of cocoa powder that comes from cocoa beans, sugar, flour and oil or butter. They do not contain enough cocoa to harm your pet goat if it eats them in small quantities. But you should keep an eye on your pet while it’s eating because usually they get excited when they find something sweet! If this happens, make sure to remove the rest of the brownie from your goat before it starts choking on crumbs or swallowing large pieces of food without chewing properly.
Can goats eat chocolate cake?
If you give your pet goat a chocolate cake that does not contain any other harmful ingredients, such as molasses or sugar, it can eat the cake in small quantities. Keep an eye on the goat while it eats to make sure it’s not going overboard with its treat! The best way to keep your pet from overdoing things is by giving it the cake only when you have enough time to watch and stop it if it tries to swallow big pieces of food.
Can goats eat chocolate chip cookies?
Yes, goats can eat chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are made of flour, yeast, sugar and oil or butter that combine together to form a dough which is then baked at high temperatures. This makes it safe for your pet goat to eat in small quantities since it will not get sick if you give it the cookie only every now and then.
Can goats eat chocolate cream pie?
Yes, goats can eat chocolate cream pies since they do not contain any components that can be harmful to a goat. However, you should not give your pet goat too much pie because it might cause diarrhoea and vomiting if they ingest too much sugar at once. Make sure you watch your pet eating so that you can take away the pie from it if it tries to swallow big pieces of food without chewing them thoroughly first!
Can goats eat chocolate donuts?
Yes, goats can eat chocolate donuts as long as they do not contain molasses or sugar. Chocolate donuts combine together flour, sugar and yeast to form a dough which is then fried in hot oil or baked at high temperatures. You should limit the quantity of these “treats” you give your pet because too much sugar can be harmful for its digestive system and cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
Can goats have chocolate animal crackers?
You should definitely not give your pet goat an animal cracker with a chocolate filling because this doe contain molasses and sugar. Animal crackers are made from flour, yeast, oil or butter, salt and sugar which makes them a great treat for a young kid that is just starting to get familiar with solid food. However, you should limit the number of these treats since too much sugar can cause diarrhoea in goats.
Can dairy goats eat white chocolate?
Dairy goats will absolutely love eating white chocolate! While it’s true that cows also use to love this sweet treat so much so that they used to be called “white gold,” in some parts of the world, the consumption of chocolate by dairy animals is considered unhygienic since the chocolate is usually contaminated with aflatoxins. White chocolate will not cause your pet any harm if she eats it, but she might get sick if the chocolate contains too many contaminants so you should be more careful next time!