Chocolate drops for rats

[UnlimitedRattieLady]

our local pet shop don't do the rat chocolate drops anymore so can they have chocolate drop for cats or dogs?

[Dearpie]

They're probably all the same general ingredients.  When I use these for treats, I just use the regular baking chips, like for cookies!  They have a nice variety of flavors, and peanut butter seems to go over well!    They're a lot cheaper than the 'pet' treats, too.  Rats can also have carob chips, which are healthier.

[Lise]

As an aside, I asked my vet about the chocolate as a broncialdialator (sp?) that I had read on this forum. (Talking about real chocolate, not carob like would be in the pet stores. )

She told me that even if it may help that I should never feed it because it contains caffeine. 

Obviously everyone should consult their own vet on the matter, and do what they feel is best but I thought I would share what I was told.

[Dearpie]

Interesting. My vet recommends using chocolate when in respiratory distress.

[ratinknots]

Please tell me if I'm wrong, but isn't the caffeine what helps the respiratory distress?  Isn't it like giving asthmatic kids coffee to help their attacks?   

Edited cuz I no spell good.   

[~Lin]

caffeine is a bronchiodilator. I use caffeine to help control my asthma... Id assume it would be very good for respiratory distress in rats (especailly because chocolate contains more caffeine than coffee), since you don't have to worry about theobromide poisoning like in cats and dogs.

[UnlimitedRattieLady]

Wow thank everyone. Two of my mother-in-laws rats have chest infection so hope some caffeine will help.

[amymckee]

Interesting. My vet recommends using chocolate when in respiratory distress.

Yep, mine does too. I give them as treats to my sick kids on a regular basis. Every now and then I'll give one to rats who aren't sick because they get jealous.

And I'm not sure if the caffeine is what helps, but I do know that my own inhaler (albuterol) is sort of a stimulant and can keep me up at night if I use too much.