How Dangerous is Chocolate to Dogs?

Easter has become a celebration that demands chocolate in all its delicious forms. However, with cases of chocolate poisoning in dogs having risen to 123% this time of year, all owners need to understand why chocolate is bad for dogs and what to do if you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate. 

Chocolate poisoning, or chocolate toxicosis, occurs when dogs consume excessive amounts of the methylxanthines in chocolate, namely caffeine and theobromine.

Why Can't Dogs Have Chocolate?

While it’s widely understood that chocolate and dogs don’t mix, it won’t stop them from using their keen sense of smell to sniff it out if given the chance. But why is chocolate so dangerous to dogs? 

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are roasted, ground, and combined with other ingredients like fat and sugar to make the sweet treat we all know and love. However, cocoa beans naturally contain methylxanthines, such as theobromine and caffeine, which can cause serious illness in dogs if consumed. 

Both theobromine and caffeine are diuretics which can quickly cause dehydration in dogs, but they are also stimulants which impact the heart and nervous system. This can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as agitation, tremors and seizures. While safe for humans to eat, dogs, cats, and other domestic animals are much more sensitive to the effects of these substances because they metabolise them slower. While eating chocolate is rarely fatal to dogs, it is unsafe for dogs to eat it. Many dogs that have eaten chocolate face other health complications that could require life-long treatment to manage. Always be vigilant when having chocolate around dogs, and store any uneaten chocolate far out of their reach.

How Much Chocolate is Toxic to Dogs

To be clear, no chocolate is “safe” for dogs to eat, but different types of chocolate have varying amounts of theobromine or caffeine, so the risk of reaction is more or less likely. The same goes for different-sized dogs, with smaller dogs needing to eat much less chocolate than larger dogs to suffer poisoning.  Your dog's risk of poisoning will depend on:

• The type of chocolate (e.g. white, milk, dark) 

• How much chocolate they ate (e.g. a small bar, a sharing bag, a whole cake) 

• The size of your dog (e.g. small, medium, large)

Generally speaking, 100-150mg of theobromine per kg of your dog’s body weight is enough to be toxic. However, all dogs are different, and sometimes dogs that consume as little as 20mg/kg show signs of toxicity. To break that down: 

• 40-50 mg/kg can cause cardiac problems. 

• 60mg/kg can cause seizures in dogs. 

• 100-150mg/kg can be toxic. 

• 200mg/kg can be fatal. 

To put that into perspective, a single bar (110g) of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate contains approximately 253mg of theobromine, which could cause serious health problems in dogs under 12kg and potential problems in dogs over 12kg. 

Regardless, all dogs are different, so you should always contact your vet or a pet poison helpline if your dog consumes chocolate. 

What Chocolate is Worst for Dogs?

To reiterate, no chocolate is good for dogs, regardless of what type and how much they eat. That said, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the higher the concentration of methylxanthines, making dark chocolate more dangerous to dogs. 

This means white chocolate is the least toxic to dogs, with 0.04mgs of theobromine per gram of chocolate, whereas cooking or baking chocolate is the worst (excluding cocoa powder) at 15.5mgs of theobromine per gram. Cocoa powder has the highest concentration of theobromine (28.5mg/g) besides cacao beans, which contain approximately 1% methylxanthines. 

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If you catch your dog eating chocolate or find evidence that they may have eaten some, the first thing to do is take it off them to prevent any more damage. Then, you should call your vet or a pet poison line and tell them: 

• What kind of chocolate your dog ate (e.g. baking, dark, milk, white)

• If there were other potentially toxic ingredients (such as raisins, macadamia nuts, etc.) 

• How much of it they ate (give an approximation if you're not sure)

• When they ate it (give an approximation if you’re not sure) 

• Details about your dog, including breed, estimated body weight, and general health

Using this information, the vet or helpline will calculate the risk of chocolate toxicosis in your dog. If possible, you should also try to keep hold of the wrapper of whatever chocolate your dog ate. Dogs with a high risk of chocolate toxicosis will need immediate veterinary treatment, whereas dogs with a moderate or mild risk of chocolate toxicosis might not. 

Signs of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs

Even if your dog doesn’t require immediate veterinary treatment, it doesn't mean it's out of the woods. Even dogs that seem fine can still develop symptoms of poisoning  6-12 hours after ingesting chocolate. This is why any dog that has consumed chocolate, regardless of how much, should be monitored closely for the next 24 hours, and you should contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the below clinical signs of chocolate toxicosis : 

• Vomiting/diarrhoea 

• Rapid breathing 

• Increased heart rate 

• Restlessness/hyperactivity 

• Tremors or incoordination 

• Seizures 

Please remember, even if your dog seems fine after eating chocolate, you should still call your vet for advice. Every dog is different, and underlying health conditions must also be considered. 

Treatment for Dogs That Ate Chocolate

Your vet will decide on the best treatment method for your dog based on the amount and type of chocolate they ate and when.

If your dog needs emergency treatment for eating chocolate, a vet will often administer charcoal. Activated charcoal is often used by vets when an animal has swallowed something toxic, as it lines the stomach and helps to absorb the toxins in the digestive tract before they can enter the bloodstream. 

Depending on how long ago your dog ate the chocolate, they might decide to induce vomiting to bring up the chocolate before it’s digested. In severe cases of chocolate toxicosis, a vet may also provide IV fluids or other medications to help manage the symptoms of chocolate poisoning. Sometimes, vets will keep dogs overnight to monitor them. 

Always remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry regarding dogs and chocolate. Call your vet if your dog has ingested any chocolate, regardless of the type. 

Tips for Keeping Dogs Safe Around Chocolate

Learning to keep your dog safe around chocolate is a must! By preventing your dog from ingesting chocolate in the first place, you can save yourself and your dog a lot of stress. The key things to remember are: 

• Always keep chocolate in high or locked cupboards your dog cannot access. 

• Be mindful when eating chocolate, and make sure they can’t access it. 

• Don’t get caught out by hidden chocolate (e.g. cocoa shells in garden mulch, chocolate decorations or gifts, chocolate sent in the post). 

• Teach your dog the “Leave it” command. That way, if they try and eat chocolate, you can tell them to stop. 

• Find dog-safe chocolate (such as carob chocolate) that is not toxic to dogs. 

We all love a treat occasionally, but your dog’s safety must come first. Not only can chocolate toxicosis cause life-long health problems with your dog, but the cost of emergency vet visits and treatments tends to be more expensive than a normal routine checkup.