COLUMBIA, Mo. – Your furry friends likely share your fondness for Valentine’s Day chocolate and other seasonal confections.

But candy, especially chocolate, is anything but sweet for your pet, says University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist Timothy Evans. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center ranks chocolates as the seventh top pet toxin.

Common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in pets include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drinking, hyperactivity, pacing and shaking.

If your furry friend shows these symptoms, seek veterinary care immediately. Take a sample of the candy with you to show the vet and try to estimate how much your pet may have eaten.

Also, if the candy box or candy bag is still intact, look for the sweet’s ingredients so that you can share this information as well, says Evans. Some fillings such as raisins or nuts may cause issues.

Chocolates can contain a variety of ingredients toxic to dogs, including a compound called theobromine. Theobromine is in the same class as caffeine, so when dogs ingest chocolate in large quantities, the theobromine may cause hyperactivity, agitation, an increase in heart rate, muscle tremors and seizures. Generally, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it has, so it will take less dark chocolate to pose a problem for your dog.

However, theobromine in chocolate may not be the only concern for your dog. Xylitol, a sugar substitute, is occasionally used in chocolate as well. Xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver injury.

Some dogs may be sensitive to the amount of sugar and fat in chocolate, and ingesting chocolate may lead to inflammation of the pancreas.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Trained toxicologists will consider the age and health of your pet, what and how much he ate, and then make a recommendation, such as whether to induce vomiting, based on their assessment.

Evans advises pet owners to have a plan in place before an emergency occurs.

Talk to your veterinarian about establishing a protocol for emergencies. Some practices perform after-hours care; others do not. Also, talk with your veterinarian about emergency boarding if a work or family emergency takes you away from home and requires immediate boarding of your pet.

For more tips on emergency care for your pets, go to https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/emergency-care-your-pet.