If you’re reading this article, we’re guessing that you just discovered your dog with some chocolate and need to know what to do quickly.
So yes, chocolate is harmful to dogs and there is potential for a serious medical emergency if your dog has ingested too much. But whether your pooch gets sick and needs to rush to the vet or not depends on the amount and type of cacao eaten, and the size of your dog. So the first thing to do is to look at the packaging to determine exactly what and how much was eaten.
How Much Chocolate Is Toxic for Dogs?
Baking Chocolate: This is almost pure cocoa. One ounce of this for a 20-pound dog is already over the danger line.
Dark Chocolate: Use a scale of 1.5 ounces per 10 pounds of body weight. That’s 3 ounces for a 20 pound dog. If they’ve ingested that much or more, it’s time to call your vet.
Milk Chocolate or Semi-sweet: A poisonous amount would be anything over 3.5 ounces- a standard size Hershey’s bar- for a small 10 pound dog.
White Chocolate: This contains almost no cocoa, so it’s not dangerous except for the high sugar content.
The PetMD website has a chocolate toxicity calculator that you can also use.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs | When to Call the Vet
The next thing to do is to check your dog for symptoms and give your veterinarian a call if they ate a dangerous amount.
If your dog ate less than the amounts mentioned above, your vet may advise you to keep your dog at home and under observation. Signs of poisoning will generally be apparent in the following 4 to 24 hours. Things to watch for are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid breathing and restlessness
- Increased heart rate
- Increased urination
- Higher body temperature
- Low blood pressure
- Tremors
- Seizures
If your dog is having serious symptoms like seizures or losing consciousness, you should head to your vet or emergency veterinary hospital right away. And of course, when in doubt, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and get your pet checked.
Why Is Chocolate Bad for Dogs?
Chocolate contains both caffeine and the chemical theobromine, which are toxic for dogs. These substances speed up the heart rate and affect the canine nervous system in a harmful way.
My Dog Ate Chocolate But Seems Fine – A True Story!
Laura’s family came home from an evening out to find Livi, their mini-dachshund mix, on a cushion in the living room instead of inside her crate. She was locked in the crate when they left, so what happened!? Further investigation showed that one of the kids had left the crate side door unlatched, allowing their pooch to wander out. Oh well, she didn’t pee on the floor or chew up anything, so no harm done!
A few minutes later their teenage daughter came out of her room holding some Lindt Chocolate Truffle wrappers. She’d been preparing goodie bags for a party and had left everything spread out on the bedroom floor. Oh noooo! Livi had gone into the room, discovered the sweet treats, and had eaten three Lindt balls.
First reaction is controlled panic. Then,…think. Laura did some quick research and since they had the wrappers, she knew exactly what and how much had been eaten. Although Livi was a small dog, because these balls had only a thin outer coating of milk or dark chocolate and an inside filling that was more like ganache with low/no cocoa, the amount did not seem life-threatening. They tried getting her to ingest some hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting and get the Lindt balls out of her system. But she wasn’t too keen on that treatment and in the end, she didn’t throw up.
My friend decided to hold off on a vet trip as it was nearly midnight and so far Livi hadn’t shown any real symptoms except for a pink rash on her tummy. She kept the dog on her bed that night to keep an eye on her, ready to take her to the emergency animal hospital in the middle of the night if necessary.
Fortunately, they came through the incident without any harm done. But it could have turned out differently. Livi is not a big eater and left most of the treats on the floor. Many other dogs with more voracious appetites might have consumed everything in sight and have to be rushed to the vet. And since then, Lindt balls are kept way out of reach!
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Your Friendly Vet – Kyle, Buda, South Austin TX
If your pet needs care, whether it’s routine exams and vaccinations or help for a medical emergency, we’re here for you. You’ll always find loving and high-standard care for your pets at our brand new, state-of-the-art clinic. Call Republic Veterinary Hospital at 512-269-0738 today for an appointment and $15 off your first exam.
