Can rats eat chocolate?

No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to rats, and the RSPCA lists it as harmful. Dark chocolate contains the most.

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Serving

Never

How to prepare

Do not feed in any form

Benefits

None. Chocolate is not a treatment for breathing problems — a rat struggling to breathe needs a vet.

The details

You may read online that chocolate helps a rat with breathing problems. It doesn't — a rat struggling to breathe needs a vet. The RSPCA lists sneezing, wheezing and breathing strangely among the signs to call a vet about.

What to do if your rat ate it

Call a vet straight away — ideally one who treats exotic pets — and don't wait for symptoms. Rats can't vomit, and the RSPCA warns that even a small amount of something harmful can kill them. Tell the vet what your rat ate, roughly how much and when, and bring the packaging if there is one. Don't try home remedies or human medicines: the RSPCA warns these are very dangerous to rats.