If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Do not wait for symptoms. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).
Why
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants from a group called methylxanthines. Dogs break these down much more slowly than people do, so they build up in the body and overstimulate the heart and nervous system.
The risk depends on the type of chocolate and your dog's size. Baking chocolate, cocoa powder and dark chocolate contain the most theobromine; milk chocolate contains less; white chocolate contains very little but is still high in fat and sugar. A small amount of dark chocolate can be serious for a small dog.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Restlessness, hyperactivity or panting
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Racing or irregular heartbeat
- Muscle tremors and, in severe cases, seizures
- Signs usually appear within 6 to 12 hours and can last for days
What to do if your dog eats it
- Note the type of chocolate, how much is missing and when it was eaten. Keep the wrapper.
- Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control service right away, even if your dog seems fine.
- Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.
- Store chocolate, cocoa and baked goods out of reach, especially around holidays.
Why does one square of baking chocolate worry vets more than a candy bar?
Vets work out the risk from two numbers: how much theobromine and caffeine the chocolate contains, and how much the dog weighs. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives rough thresholds for these stimulants combined. Mild signs can appear at around 20 mg per kg of body weight, heart problems at about 40 to 50 mg/kg, and seizures at roughly 60 mg/kg.
Unsweetened baking chocolate and dry cocoa powder carry many times more theobromine per ounce than milk chocolate. So a few squares of baking chocolate can put a small dog into the danger range, while the same weight of milk chocolate might only cause an upset stomach. Poison control staff can do this math for you if you tell them the product, the amount and your dog's weight.
What happens at the vet after a chocolate raid?
If the dog ate chocolate recently and has no symptoms yet, the vet may give an injection that makes the dog vomit. That decision belongs to the vet or poison control, because vomiting is not safe for every dog.
- Activated charcoal, sometimes in repeated doses, to soak up theobromine still in the gut
- IV fluids to support the kidneys and help flush the stimulants out
- Heart monitoring, plus medicine for a racing heart or tremors if needed
- Frequent chances to urinate, because theobromine can be reabsorbed from urine sitting in the bladder
Where chocolate hides besides the candy dish
Most calls come from the obvious sources: Easter baskets, Halloween bags, Christmas stockings and Valentine's boxes. Dogs also eat the foil and plastic wrappers, which can cause their own blockage.
Less obvious sources are brownies and chocolate cake, hot cocoa mix, chocolate-covered espresso beans and chocolate-covered raisins. The last two add caffeine or grape toxicity on top. The ASPCA also warns about cocoa bean shell mulch, which contains theobromine and smells appealing to some dogs. If you use it in the garden, keep your dog out of those beds.
Common questions
Is chocolate good for dogs?
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants from a group called methylxanthines.
Is chocolate bad for dogs?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: vomiting and diarrhea; restlessness, hyperactivity or panting; excessive thirst and urination.
Are dogs allowed to have chocolate?
No, keep it away from your dog. If your dog eats some anyway: note the type of chocolate, how much is missing and when it was eaten. Keep the wrapper.