My dog ate chocolate! What can I do?

By Ernest Ward, DVM

Is it really bad if a dog eats chocolate?

• Yes, because a large amount of chocolate can be poisonous to dogs.
• Chocolate ingestion can result in serious illness and in rare cases, death.
• Chocolate is toxic because it contains the alkaloid theobromine, which is similar to caffeine.
• Theobromine is used in medicine as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and a smooth muscle relaxant.

How much chocolate is poisonous to dogs?

• Toxic doses of theobromine are reported to be about 100 mg/kg (approximately 50 mg/lb)
• Fatalities occur at around 200 mg/kg (approximately 100 mg/lb).
• However, the amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate.
  • Cooking or baking chocolate and high-quality dark chocolate contain 15-20 mg of theobromine per gram.
  • Common milk chocolate only contains about 1.5 mg/gm.
• A small 5-pound dog could become poisoned by eating just 2 ounces of baking chocolate or 15 ounces of milk chocolate.
• A 50-pound dog could become ill after eating 20 ounces of baking or dark chocolate.

What symptoms should I watch for if I suspect dog chocolate poisoning?

Don’t wait for symptoms to appear if you suspect or know that your dog ate chocolate. Call your veterinarian immediately for advice.

The sooner your vet can remove the theobromine from your dog’s body or stabilized your dog, the better the prognosis is for your dog's health.

Symptoms depend on the type and amount of chocolate ingested by the dog, and they can take up to 12 hours to develop. The theobromine will remain in active form for up to 24 hours.

• For many dogs, the most common symptoms are:
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased thirst
  • Panting
  • Restlessness
  • Excessive urination
  • Muscle spasms
  • Seizures (occasionally)
  • An elevated heart rate and abnormal behavior are also common
• If an older pet eats a large amount of high quality dark or baking chocolate, sudden death from cardiac arrest can occur, especially if the dog has a preexisting heart disease.

How does my vet treat dog chocolate poisoning?

Your veterinarian treats each case according to the amount and type of chocolate eaten.

• If your vet has a chance to treat the dog early, he or she will use medication to induce vomiting and remove the chocolate from the stomach. (Do NOT do this at home!)
• If the chocolate was eaten several hours earlier, your vet may administer activated charcoal every 4 hours for the first 24-26 hours of treatment, to block further absorption of theobromine in the stomach and small intestine.
• Your vet may also use intravenous fluid therapy to help dilute the poison and promote its excretion.
• Any dog that eats chocolate is closely monitored for the first 24 hours for any signs of irregular heart rhythm.

Why do some dog treats contain chocolate?

• Some specialty dog bakeries use a small amount of milk chocolate in their treats. Since the amount of theobromine is so low in milk chocolate, this may be safe for most dogs.
• To be safe, you probably should avoid giving your dog any type of chocolate.
• Many gourmet dog treats use carob as a chocolate substitute, and this may confuse pet owners because it looks like chocolate. Carob is vegetable-based and is safe for dogs.

The good news is — if your dog eats chocolate, you can get immediate treatment. Call your vet for help.

Your vet is the best guide on what to do.