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:
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
- Hyperactivity
- Muscle rigidity
- Rapid breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Seizures
- Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)
How much chocolate is poisonous to a dog?
The amount of theobromine in chocolate varies with the type of chocolate, so the dose of theobromine is calculated using the amount and type of chocolate ingested. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs. Cocoa beans have the most theobromine, followed by unsweetened cocoa powder, then, in order from most to least, baked unsweetened dark/baking chocolate, semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate with the least theobromine.
Even if the dose of theobromine is not toxic, dogs can still develop vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis from the fat and sugar in chocolate.
Information originally from PetMD which also has a “Chocolate Toxicity Calculator” and VCA Hospitals
