My Dog Ate Chocolate: Symptoms, Toxicity & Emergency Steps

My Dog Ate Chocolate: What Should I Do?

Your dog and their fantastic sense of smell found that piece of chocolate you accidentally left on the countertop. For us, chocolate is a sumptuous treat with reported health benefits. For dogs, it’s one of the most common household toxins, alongside household cleaners, pesticides, and prescription medications.

Chocolate can result in a myriad of health problems in dogs, from vomiting and diarrhea to seizures and heart problems. Factors including the type and amount of chocolate eaten, as well as the size of the dog, determine the severity of symptoms. Any type of chocolate in any amount, however, is hazardous for all dogs.

Here we delve into your questions about chocolate toxicity in dogs, including how it affects their health, symptoms to watch for, how veterinarians treat chocolate poisoning, and what to do if your dog ate chocolate.

If your dog ate chocolate, we recommend calling your veterinarian immediately. Another option is to call the Pet Poison Helpline, available 24/7 (1-855-764-7661).

Why Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs

Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which contain the compounds theobromine and caffeine. Both are central nervous system stimulants called methylxanthines.

Though most of us can metabolize these compounds relative quickly and without any problems, it takes longer in dogs. Where we can metabolize theobromine (the primary toxic compound in chocolate) in about two to three hours, it takes about 18 hours in dogs. This gives these compounds more time to accumulate and reach dangerous levels.

In dogs, these compounds can affect:

• The nervous system. Methylxanthines block receptors that regulate the central nervous system, causing stimulation. A dog may develop signs like restlessness, hyperactivity, pacing, and tremors.
• The heart. The stimulant effects of theobromine and caffeine also cause heart-related symptoms like abnormal or rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure.
• The digestive system. These compounds are irritating to the stomach and intestine, causing symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Chocolate also often contains high amounts of fat and sugar, which can place a dog at risk for pancreatitis.

Important! Because dogs metabolize these compounds more slowly than we do, even small amounts can cause illness. Consuming larger amounts of chocolate can potentially be fatal.

Types of Chocolate and Toxicity Risk

While any type of chocolate is off-limits for dogs, darker varieties are more dangerous because of their higher theobromine content.

Here’s a closer look at how much theobromine each variety of chocolate contains, per Pet Poison Hotline; they are listed from the highest amounts to the lowest.

1. Cocoa powder: 400 to 737 mg. per oz.
2. Unsweetened baking chocolate: 390 to 450 mg. per oz.
3. Dark, semi-sweet chocolate: 135 mg. per oz.
4. Milk chocolate: 44 to 60 mg. per oz.
5. White chocolate: 0.25 mg. per oz. Even at this low level, white chocolate can be toxic in dogs.

The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is to dogs. All forms of chocolate, however, including white chocolate, carry risk.

Another consideration is that some chocolate products contain other ingredients that are toxic to dogs, including xylitol and macadamia nuts.

How Much Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs?

Chocolate toxicity in dogs depends on several factors. These include:

• Dog’s body weight. Smaller dogs are at greater risk of toxicity, even if they eat tiny amounts of lighter chocolate.
• Type of chocolate eaten. Darker, more bitter chocolate contains more theobromine, making it more toxic.
• Amount consumed. Obviously, the more a dog eats of any chocolate, the higher chance there is of toxicity. Even a small amount places a dog at risk.

In an example from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of a dog’s weight can be fatal. To compare, just 0.1 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate per pound of a dog’s weight can be lethal.

Veterinarians sometimes use chocolate toxicity calculators to estimate risk. Though these can be helpful for pet parents, it’s best to contact your veterinarian for professional guidance.

Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs generally appear within two to 12 hours after ingestion. Given that theobromine is metabolized slowly in dogs, however, it can take as long as 24 hours for symptoms to appear.

Common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Excessive thirst or urination
• Rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure levels
• Tremors or seizures

Severe cases can progress to heart rhythm abnormalities, muscle tremors, seizures, collapse, and other serious issues.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate

• Step 1: Remove Remaining Chocolate
• Step 2: Type, Amount, and Time of Ingestion
• Step 3: Contact a Veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline.
• Step 4: Follow Veterinary Instructions

How Veterinarians Treat Chocolate Poisoning

Treatment depends on clinical signs, with life-threating signs addressed first.

Common treatments used by veterinarians may include:

• Inducing vomiting. Veterinarians administer prescription drugs to induce vomiting, usually via injection.
• Activated charcoal. It absorbs the toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. Activated charcoal is administered orally every eight hours for a 24-hour period.
• IV fluids to support the body. This is given to treat dehydration and encourage urination, which helps prevent kidney failure.
• Medications. These may include medications to control tremors or heart rate, reduce nausea, stop seizures, and stimulate urination.
• Hospital monitoring. In severe cases, your dog may need to be hospitalized for dedicated care.

Early treatment significantly improves outcomes. With timely care, treating chocolate toxicity in dogs is often manageable. Waiting means the situation has more time to progress into a potential medical emergency requiring invasive treatment and hospitalization.

Can Dogs Recover from Chocolate Poisoning?

Yes, most pets with chocolate poisoning thankfully recover and return to normal within 24 to 48 hours of treatment. There are a few factors, however, that may impact recovery times.

Recovery depends on:

• Amount of chocolate eaten. Dogs who’ve ingested a small amount of chocolate generally display milder symptoms and have a better prognosis. Higher amounts of chocolate ingested (in relation to the dog’s body weight) result in more severe symptoms.
• Speed of treatment. Prompt veterinary treatment is critical to a positive outcome. Delaying treatment often leads to the worsening of symptoms and the need for costlier, more invasive care.
• Overall health of the dog. Stronger, healthier dogs recover faster. Puppies and senior dogs may have a more difficult time with recovery, as can dogs with pre-existing conditions like heart disease, liver disease, and neurological conditions like epilepsy.

Severe poisoning cases may require hospitalization and intensive care.

Preventing Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

• Keeping chocolate out of reach. Because of their heightened sense of smell, it doesn’t take much for any dog to locate chocolate. Hide your stash in a place your dog positively can’t access. It’s helpful to think of chocolate as any other poisonous substance in the house, like prescription drugs, pesticides, and household cleaners.
• Storing candy safely during holidays. During holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter, chocolate becomes more readily available, increasing the risk to your dog. Take extra care during these periods; this includes teaching your children to hide their treats from your dogs.
• Informing children and guests not to feed chocolate to dogs. It’s not enough that members of your household know not to feed candy to the family dog. Also let any guests to your home know that feeding chocolate to any dog can result in serious illness.
• Teaching dogs the “leave it” command. Teaching your dog a basic command like “Leave it” makes it known that chocolate is a restricted item. This one command has the potential to save your dog’s life.
• Minding your garden. If you’re a gardener, avoid using cocoa shells in your yard. While they carry a pleasant smell, they also contain high levels of theobromine.