Is Chocolate Poisonous to Dogs | Signs Your Dog Has Eaten Chocolate

What do dogs, Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s day have in common? Chocolate!

Therefore, if you own a dog or are around dogs at these or other times, you should know, “is chocolate poisonous to dogs?”

The answer is YES! Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs.

Dogs die every year from eating chocolate. Although, most dogs just get sick. Really Sick!

If your dog has recently eaten chocolate and you are looking for advice on what to do, call your vet, or animal poison control (1-888-426-4435 in Canada and the U.S.).

You may also want to use an online Chocolate Toxicity Calculator for Dogs.

How Much Chocolate is Toxic to a Dog?

Well, it depends. It depends on several things, such as:

• The size, breed, and age of the dog
• Pre-existing health issues – pregnancy, high blood pressure, etc
• Quantity of chocolate consumed
• Quality of chocolate and percentage of Cocoa
• How quickly you discover and treat the dog after they have eaten chocolate

The long term effects of dog eating chocolate depends on the points listed above.

What Happens if Your Dog Eats Chocolate?

A dog that consumes a large amount of chocolate (theobromine) can experience seizures, muscle tremors, internal bleeding, an irregular heartbeat, or a heart attack.

That is why Is chocolate poisonous to dogs.

One of the early warning signs that your dog has eaten a large amount of chocolate is severe hyperactivity — a sure sign to seek medical help for your dog A.S.A.P.

If your dog has eaten a small amount of chocolate, it may experience an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How much is a small amount of chocolate for a dog to eat?
Well, as I said above, that depends on so many factors – a large dog will be able to eat more chocolate than a small dog before feeling any ill effects.

It also depends on the type of chocolate and the amount of theobromine in the chocolate. The theobromine levels are higher in dark chocolates such as cooking chocolate, whereas white chocolate and milk chocolate have lower levels.

Because theobromine levels are highest in dark chocolates, it means that only a small amount could be enough to poison a dog.

For example, it can take less than an ounce of dark chocolate to poison a 44-pound dog.

Therefore, if you think your dog has eaten any amount of dark chocolate, play it safe and go to a vet.

How to Treat Theobromine Poisoning

If your small dog, a Jack Russell, for example, has eaten a large amount of chocolate, let’s say a full box or full-size block of chocolate, contact a veterinarian immediately. CALL THEM NOW – do not wait or read any further!

The standard treatment for theobromine poisoning in dogs of all sizes is to induce vomiting by administering medications. 

If necessary, activated charcoal may be administered every four to six hours for the first twenty-four hours to block the absorption of theobromine into the body. The activated charcoal will also help reduce the continued resorption and recirculation of theobromine.

Supportive treatments, including intravenous fluid therapy, help to stabilize the dog and encourage theobromine excretion. 

If the dog has an elevated heart rate and arrhythmia, it may need medication such as beta-blockers to slow the heart rate.

Signs Your Dog Has Eaten Chocolate

Learn to recognize the symptoms of dog eating chocolate? Any dog that has consumed chocolate, regardless of the amount, should be monitored for the following signs:

• agitation
• diarrhea
• high blood pressure
• irregular heart rhythm
• nervousness
• vomiting 

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate?

If your dog has recently eaten chocolate and you are looking for advice on what to do, contact your local vet or Animal Poison Control: 1-888-426-4435 in Canada and the U.S.

All Types of Chocolate Are Poisonous for Dogs

Some people mistakenly believe that it’s okay to give dogs small amounts of chocolate. It is not okay, in any amount.

Remember that the amount of theobromine varies with the different types of chocolate, and other ingredients, such as sugar, which are also not suitable for dogs.

Giving a dog a small amount of chocolate now and again is a dangerous habit. The dog develops a taste for it and wouldn’t think twice about devouring any chocolate its owner leaves lying around.

It’s a bit like not giving a dog an old shoe to play with because the moment you do, all shoes are fair game.

Therefore, one should always be aware of what chocolate products are brought into the house and not leave them where a curious dog might find them – particularly at times like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas, and birthdays.

So let’s look at the different types of chocolate and why they are bad for dogs.

White chocolate

White chocolate contains the lowest levels of theobromine, but that doesn’t mean that it is safe for dogs to eat.

In fact, the opposite applies because white chocolate usually contains high levels of sugar, which can be very harmful to dogs.

The high levels of sugar in white chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes pancreatitis. 

Milk Chocolate

Mike chocolate is the most common form of chocolate used in Valentine’s Day gifts, Easter eggs, Halloween, and other novelty treats. 

Therefore, milk chocolate could pose a significant risk because of the frequency of entering your household.

Parents need to educate their children (and non-dog-owning visitors) about the dangers of leaving their chocolate treats and wrappers around the house.

If your dog eats a large volume of milk chocolate, it will generally experience vomiting and diarrhea.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate, including cooking chocolate, is more harmful to dogs than white and milk chocolate because it contains higher levels of theobromine.

Therefore, dogs are at greater risk from smaller amounts of dark chocolates. Symptoms can be quite severe and include:

• Diarrhea
• Fast and irregular heartbeats 
• Seizures
• Tremors
• Vomiting
• and possibly death

Baking Chocolate

Baking chocolate has the highest theobromine levels of all chocolates and therefore poses the most significant risk.

So you might be thinking, 

‘hey, wait a minute, if it’s baking chocolate, it will be one ingredient of many in a cake or cookie. All the other ingredients dilute the theobromine.’

To some degree, your thinking is sound. However, theobromine plus some of the other ingredients, such as sugar, is where the real danger lies, especially if the baked item contains raisins or macadamia nuts, which can be deadly for dogs.

Heart Issues Can Occur When a Dog Has Eaten Even a Small Amount of Baking Chocolate.

It is the combined effect of the high levels of theobromine, sugar, and other ingredients that can cause a dog to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and possibly pancreatitis.

Summary

Is chocolate poisonous to dogs?

Yes, all chocolate is bad for dogs, even in the smallest quantity. 

Prevention is always better than any cure, so we need to be mindful of chocolate products in the house and keep them out of reach from your dog – and any dogs that may visit.

Seek medical help for your dog if you suspect that they have eaten a large amount of chocolate – or even when you know they have, but not how much.

Symptoms don’t show immediately, and it can take up to eight hours for your dog to show signs.

If your dog has a history of heart problems, is pregnant, is less than six months old, or is an older dog, seek medical help immediately. Do not wait – it could be the difference between life and death.

Where to Seek Help if Your Has Eaten Chocolate

• Your local vet
• Animal Poison Control: 1-888-426-4435 in Canada and the U.S.

Online dog chocolate calculator Chocolate Toxicity Calculator for Dogs

Related Articles:

If Your Dog Has Eaten Chocolate | Symptoms, and Treatment Options
How Much Chocolate Is Toxic To Dogs