Is Chocolate Bad for My Dog? (& What to Do If They Eat It)

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and to a lesser extent, caffeine. Humans metabolize theobromine easily, but dogs don't. Dogs process theobromine and caffeine slowly, which allows these toxic compounds to build up in their systems and cause clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity.

But when it comes to toxicity, not all chocolate is the same. What happens if a dog eats chocolate is different based on the type of chocolate they consumed. Baker's chocolate and cocoa, for example, are considered to be the most toxic, then dark chocolate, then milk chocolate. Is white chocolate bad for dogs? It's less toxic than other types, but still not recommended.

Chocolate toxicity is so common in dogs that the Merck Veterinary Manual offers a chocolate toxicity meter that you can use to determine if your dog has consumed a toxic amount of chocolate. 

Signs of chocolate poisoning in dogs can depend on your dog's size and how much chocolate they've consumed.

If you have a medium or large dog who consumes only a small amount of chocolate, then you may only notice signs associated with an upset stomach, such as vomiting or diarrhea.

But if your dog consumes a large amount of chocolate or if you have a small dog who consumes chocolate, then they may develop the following signs of chocolate toxicity:

• Seizures
• Tremors
• Irregular heart rate
• Heart arrhythmia
• Internal bleeding

These signs are usually preceded by an onset of extreme excitement.

If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate or you see them eating chocolate, don't wait to see if they develop any signs of toxicity. Call your veterinarian immediately. The sooner a dog is treated, the higher likelihood they'll recover without incident.

If your veterinarian isn't available, call the local emergency veterinary clinic or the pet poison hotline. These professionals will walk you through what to do.

It's helpful to keep or take a picture of the packaging to give to the veterinarian, and let them know when you think your dog was eating chocolate. Treatment often differs depending on how long the chocolate has been in the dog's body.

The treatment for chocolate toxicity in dogs is decontamination and support.

First, the chocolate needs to be removed from your dog's system. If the chocolate has been consumed within the last hour, your veterinarian may be able to induce vomiting to get the chocolate out of their system and avoid a hospital stay. This is another reason not to wait on calling your veterinarian after your dog has eaten chocolate. Keep in mind that you should never try to induce your dog to vomit at home without a veterinarian's supervision. If it's been more than a few hours or you don't know when the chocolate was consumed, your veterinarian may need to try and help clear the toxic byproducts of the chocolate in your dog's system by administering activated charcoal or giving them intravenous fluids through a catheter. If your dog isn't showing signs of chocolate poisoning, this may be all the treatment they need.