Why is chocolate bad for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Chocolate poisoning in dogs

Dogs should never be given chocolate. Chocolate is made with cocoa solids, which contain a substance called theobromine. Theobromine is harmless to humans, but toxic to dogs and other pets because they struggle to metabolise it (break it down). Chocolate can also contain a small amount of caffeine which can be harmful to pets.

As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the more cocoa solids/theobromine it will contain and the more toxic its likely to be. However, even chocolate with less cocoa solids can be toxic if enough is eaten. Although white chocolate doesnt contain any cocoa solids (so toxicity isnt a risk), it does contain a lot of fat and sugar, which can cause stomach upsets and in severe cases, pancreatitis. Cocoa powder is especially toxic because it contains an extremely high concentration of cocoa solids.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and depending on the type and amount of chocolate consumed and the weight of your dog, it could cause a serious medical emergency. But what should you do if your dog ate chocolate?

If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, its important to monitor them for signs of toxicity. Learn how much is too much, which types of chocolate are the most dangerous, and what signs to look for that may signal your dog needs treatment.

Why Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs

Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine. If your dog consumes food or drink with caffeine or theobromine in it, these chemicals can speed up the heart rate and stimulate their nervous systems.

The risk of your dog becoming sick from ingesting chocolate depends on the type and amount of chocolate consumed and your dogs weight. The concentrations of these toxic substances vary among different types of chocolate. Here are a few types of chocolate listed in order of theobromine content:

Cocoa powder (most toxic)
Unsweetened bakers chocolate
Semisweet chocolate
Dark chocolate
Milk chocolate

Knowing how much and what kind of chocolate your dog ate can help you and your vet determine if you have an emergency. You can calculate your dogs risk of toxicity with this chocolate toxicity calculator. In general, mild symptoms of chocolate toxicity occur when a dog consumes 20 mg of methylxanthines (including theobromine and caffeine) per kilogram of body weight. Cardiac symptoms of chocolate toxicity occur around 40 to 50 mg/kg, and seizures occur at dosages greater than 60 mg/kg.

In simpler terms, that means a very concerning dose of chocolate is approximately one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight. Since an average milk chocolate bar may be around 1.55 ounces, consuming even one chocolate bar can have serious consequences, especially for small dogs. Eating a crumb of chocolate cake or a very small piece of a chocolate bar, on the other hand, probably wont kill your dog, especially if it is a larger breed.

But dogs should never be fed chocolate as a treat. Instead, offer your pet a dog-safe alternative (like a treat featuring carob), which is just as tasty for canines!

What Are the Signs of Chocolate Poisoning?

What happens if a dog eats chocolate? They may experience chocolate poisoning.

Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within six to 12 hours after your dog has eaten it. Older dogs and dogs with heart conditions are more at risk of sudden death from chocolate poisoning. The symptoms, which may last up to 72 hours, include the following:

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If you believe your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately or call the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680) for advice. Note that if your vet is not open, some services provide live chat and video options to connect you with a vet. Based on your dogs size and the amount and type of chocolate consumed, your veterinarian may recommend that you monitor your dog for the clinical signs listed above and call back if their condition worsens.

In other cases, the veterinarian may prefer you bring your dog into the clinic. If your pet consumed the chocolate less than two hours ago, your veterinarian may induce vomiting in your dog and give them several doses of activated charcoal, which works to move the toxins out of the body without being absorbed into the bloodstream. For more severe cases, veterinary intervention may be needed to provide supplemental medical treatment, such as medications or IV fluids, to resolve the effects of the poisoning. Dogs suffering from seizures may need to be monitored at the clinic overnight.

How to Prevent Your Dog from Eating Chocolate

To prevent your dog from sneaking chocolate, follow these tips:

Keep Chocolate Out of Reach

Make sure all chocolate items, including cocoa powder and hot chocolate mix, are stored where the dog cannot reach them, such as on a high shelf in a closed-door pantry. Remind your children and guests that chocolate should be kept out of the dogs reach and not left out for dogs on countertops, tables, or in purses. Keep this in mind during the holidays, too, making sure to placetrick-or-treat bags, Easter baskets, Valentines Day candy, Christmas stockings, and Hanukkah coins (gelt), for example, in a place where a dog cannot get to them.

Teach Them to Leave It

The command leave it is extremely effective in preventing dogs from eating something that falls onto the ground or is left within reach during a walk. Its also a very easy command to teach.

Crate Train Your Dog

The safest way to ensure your dog doesnt eat anything harmful while youre not supervising them is to crate train them. Find a sturdy dog crate that is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in.

Make it a comfortable, safe place for them to retreat to when they want to be alone or when you cant watch them. Offer items like a stuffed chew toy, favorite blanket, or treats to help them feel like the crate is their personal den.

Is Chocolate Bad for My Dog? (& What to Do If They Eat It)

Chocolate istoxic to dogsbecause it contains theobromine and to a lesser extent, caffeine. Humans metabolize theobromine easily, but dogs don't. Dogs process theobromine and caffeine slowly, which allows these toxic compounds to build up in their systems and cause clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity.

But when it comes to toxicity, not all chocolate is the same. What happens if a dog eats chocolate is different based on the type of chocolate they consumed. Baker's chocolate and cocoa, for example, are considered to be the most toxic, then dark chocolate, then milk chocolate. Is white chocolate bad for dogs? It's less toxic than other types, but still not recommended.

Chocolate toxicity is so common in dogs that theMerck Veterinary Manualoffers a chocolate toxicity meter that you can use to determine if your dog has consumed a toxic amount of chocolate.

Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?

Despite being a tasty treat for people, ingesting even the smallest amount of chocolate can be extremely hazardous to your dogs health. All types of chocolate are toxic to dogs. And, in rare cases, dogs can die from eating chocolate.

If your dog ate chocolate, contact your veterinarian, an emergency veterinarian, or thePet Poison Helplineat 855-764-7661 immediately.

Why Is Chocolate Bad for Dogs?

Chocolate contains a class of chemicals known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine). These chemicals are known for their effects on the heart and muscles.

When a dog eats chocolate, their body cannot process these chemicals the same way our bodies can. This leads to increased sensitivity to the chemicals toxic effects.

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Chocolate?

Just like in humans, dogs can developallergiesto anything they eat. But the bigger concern with chocolate ingestion in dogs is toxicity.

If you are concerned that your dog is having an allergic reaction to something they ate, contact a veterinarian for advice.

What Are the Effects of Chocolate on Dogs?

The signs of chocolate toxicity can occur quickly (within one to two hours), or they may take hours to develop. Once symptoms are present, they can last anywhere from several hours to days.

Hospitalization and supportive care may be required, depending on the severity of signs that your dog is experiencing.

Signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs may include:

The extent of chocolates effect and how toxic chocolate can be for your dog depends on a few factors.

Which Types of Chocolate Are More Toxic for Dogs?

All types of chocolate can be toxic to dogs, but the amount of chocolate and type ingested are important factors to consider, because the concentration of caffeine and theobromine can vary.

In general, darker, more bitter chocolate is the most dangerous for dogs.This is because dark chocolate contains more theobromine per ounce when compared to other types of chocolate.

How Much Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs?

ThePetMD Chocolate Toxicity Meter for dogsis a tool you can use to help calculate your dogs risk and the potential symptoms you might see. To use it, you must know (or estimate):

The list below includes the estimated amounts of theobromine in each type of chocolate in milligrams (mg) per ounce (oz).

Cacao beans: 300-1500 mg/oz.
Cocoa powder: 400-737 mg/oz.
Unsweetened baking chocolate: 390-450 mg/oz.
Dark chocolate: 135 mg/oz.
Milk chocolate: 44-60 mg/oz.
White chocolate: 0.25 mg/oz.

In general, darker, more bitter chocolate is the most dangerous for dogs.

Your dogs weight is also an important factor to consider, along with the type and amount of chocolate eaten.

A 10-pound dog that eats a smaller amount of dark chocolate may experience more severe signs and require more care compared to a 10-pound dog that eats a larger quantity of milk chocolate.

What To Do If Your Dog Ate Chocolate

If your dog ingests chocolate, call a veterinarian right away. Do not wait until you see symptoms of chocolate toxicity to appear. Your vet can help determine if the amount ingested is toxic and what the best course of action is.

Keep your dog calm and safe while you await care and advice. The veterinarian may give instructions to induce vomiting at home or may recommend immediate care at the clinic.

Treatments that may be administered by a vet include:

Activated charcoal (to prevent further absorption of the toxin from the gut)
Passage of a stomach tube (to remove toxin directly from the stomach)
Intravenous fluids (to help with hydration and cardiovascular support)
Other therapies aimed at controlling specific clinical signs

The overall prognosis for a dog that ate chocolate is generally good with quick and efficient care.

Storing chocolate in a safe place (even the refrigerator) and educating others in the house not to feed chocolate to dogs is the best prevention.

Featured Image: iStock.com/yellowsarah

References

Hovda L, Brutlag A, Poppenga R, et al.Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd edition. Wiley Blackwell. 2016.

WRITTEN BY

Christina Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC

Dog Chocolate Toxicity Meter

What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Chocolate?

If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, or if they have any of these symptoms, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian or emergency vet right away:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased body temperature
Increased reflex responses
Muscle rigidity
Rapid breathing
Increased heart rate
Low blood pressure
Seizures
Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)

Keep in mind, with any poisoning, its always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. If your dog has already developed clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity, the veterinarian visit may be more expensive, and the outcome may be worse.

If your dog has already developed clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity, the veterinarian visit may be more expensive and the outcome may be worse.

Common Chocolate Sources:

Ice Cream Rich ChocolateServing: 1 cup ( 148g)Theobromine: 178mgCaffeine: 5.9mg

KIT KAT Wafer BarServing: 1 bar (42g)Theobromine: 48.7mgCaffeine: 5.9mg

Peanut M&M'sServing: 1 cup (170g)Theobromine: 184mgCaffeine: 17mg

REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups (2pk)Serving: 2 cups (45g)Theobromine: 32.4mgCaffeine: 3.2mg

Ready to Eat Chocolate PuddingServing: 4 oz (108g)Theobromine: 75.6mgCaffeine: 2.2mg

Doughnut, cake-type, chocolate, sugared or glazedServing: 1 Doughnut (3' dia) (43g)Theobromine: 12.6mgCaffeine: 0.6mg

Hershey's Milk Chocolate BarServing: 1.55 oz (43g)Theobromine: 64mgCaffeine: 9mg

Chocolate Chip Cookies , made with margarineServing: 1 Cookie Med (2 1/4" dia) (16g)Theobromine: 20.3mgCaffeine: 2.6mg

Hershey's Chocolate SyrupServing: 2 Tbsp (39g)Theobromine: 64mgCaffeine: 5mg

Milky WayServing: 1 bar (58g)Theobromine: 37.1 mgCaffeine: 3.5mg

Hershey's KISSES (Milk Chocolate)Serving: 9 pieces (41g)Theobromine: 61mgCaffeine: 9mg

Generic Hot Fudge Sundae ToppingServing: 1 Sundae (158g)Theobromine: 77.4mgCaffeine: 1.6mg

Hershey's Semi-Sweet Baking BarServing: 1 Tbsp (15g)Theobromine: 55mgCaffeine: 7mg

REESE'S PIECES CandyServing: 1 package (46g)Theobromine: 0mgCaffeine: 0mg

Cookies, brownies, commercially preparedServing: 1 Square (2 3/4" sq x 7/8") (56g)Theobromine: 43.7mgCaffeine: 1.1mg

^aThe amount of caffeine and theobromine will vary naturally due to growing conditions and cocoa bean sources and variety.

Foods Highest in Theobromine

Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened, processed with alkali (Dutch cocoa)	1 cup (86g)	2266 mg	67.1 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, squares	1 cup, grated (132g)	1712 mg	106 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened	1 cup (86g)	1769 mg	198 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, liquid	1 oz (28g)	447 mg	13.2 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, regular, dry mix	1 Package (40g)	238 mg	7.2 mg
Desserts, rennin, chocolate, dry mix	1 Package, 2 oz (57g)	242 mg	7.4 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, instant, dry mix	1 Package, 1.4 oz box (40g)	189 mg	5.6 mg
Syrups, chocolate, HERSHEY'S Genuine Chocolate Flavored Lite Syrup	2 tbsp (35g)	68.3 mg	2.1 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, processed with alkali	1 oz (28g)	685 mg	20.2 mg
Candies, chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids	I bar (101g)	810 mg	80.8 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, plain	1 Tbsp (5g)	92.6 mg	10.3mg

What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?

Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. In general, though, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger.

For instance, a 50-pound dog could become equally sick from eating 8 ounces ( pound) of milk chocolate as they would from 1 ounce of bakers chocolate. This is because the darker chocolate is more toxic, so a smaller amount would still result in toxicity.