Chocolate is Poisonous for DogsChocolate is poisonous for dogs. Generally the higher the cocoa content of the chocolate or the darker it is, the more toxic it is for dogs to ingest.
Chocolate is made from the seeds of Theobroma cacoa which are roasted to make that wonderful confectionary that we humans love. Dogs also enjoy chocolate and will often eat large quantities if they are allowed, but they shouldn't because it is a poison for them even though it tastes nice!
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. It is the theobromine content that is the problem for dogs. In large amounts theobromine causes relaxation of smooth muscles, is a diuretic (increases urine production) and stimulates the heart and central nervous system.
Dark chocolate contains more theobromine than milk chocolate so this is more dangerous for dogs to consume. A dog weighing around 10 kg which consumes around 4oz of milk chocolate may show signs of poisoning. If it ate 40oz then it may die. Although 40oz of chocolate sounds like a lot for a dog to eat it is not impossible given that chocolate is tasty and dogs may gorge on it if they get the opportunity. Dark chocolate would produce similar signs if smaller quantities were consumed.
Signs of poisoning will probably not occur immediately after your pet eats chocolate. If your dog has consumed a large amount of chocolate the signs often become apparent in around 8 hours or so and death may occur shortly afterwards. Signs of chocolate poisoning include an increase in thirst, vomiting and diarrhoea, loss of bladder control, nervous behaviour, muscle spasms, seizures, coma and death.
If your dog has eaten a large amount of chocolate then take him to your vet immediately. Try to take the wrapper or packaging from the chocolate so the vet knows how dark the chocolate was and the approximate weight consumed. The vet may be able to give your dog an emetic to make him vomit the chocolate before it is absorbed. This may work for several hours after consumption since chocolate does not seem to be quickly absorbed. Treatment with activated charcoal may also help to reduce the amount of theobromine absorbed by the gut. Your vet may want to keep a close eye on your dog and it may be necessary to admit your dog to the hospital for fluids and other treatment in severe cases.
If you want to give your dog a chocolate treat then use very small quantities of milk chocolate. Personally I would completely avoid giving chocolate to dogs. However many people do give small chocolate treats to their dogs and normally this is OK, but do take care not to give too much. © Samantha Coe. All rights reserved. Further information, news and pet-related healthcare articles are available at vetbase.co.uk
Questions Answered
|
vomiting (dog) (09-Feb-07 08:46PM)
Michelle asks:
Through the night our dog opened a cupboard and ripped and ate all the box of chocolates, and now cannot stop vomiting? ... view
|
|
dog ingested onions (dog) (22-Jun-07 12:17AM)
Duane asks:
Our beagle who weighs like ingested a gyro which contained a lots of onions... is she in trouble? ... view
|
|
Itching head and chewing paws (na) (09-Feb-07 09:10PM)
Jakki asks:
Both dogs keep itching and it is driving me mad one black lab and other a boxer have been treated and also bedding and surrounding areas but can't find anything. ... view
|
|
soft spot (na) (05-Jul-07 10:19PM)
 Alicia asks:
I have a chihuahua. She is about five months old and she has a soft spot in top of her head. I was wondering if this is normal? ... view
|
|
Dry skin (dog) (25-Jan-07 08:43AM)
Sam asks:
When i groom Zeus, i can feel like dry flaky skin on his back, more towards the tail, and he tends to get agitated when i brush this area, you can ... view
|
|
Aggression (dog) (27-Jan-07 10:39PM)
Suzanne asks:
I have an 18 month old female husky who can be quite aggressive to other dogs especially if they are submissive towards her, she stands over them and dares them to ... view
|
|
Scratching Ears (dog) (30-Jan-07 02:40PM)
Robyn asks:
Every now and again he scratches his ears. We've given him ear-drops but they don't look red, just waxy. I would like to know what to do and if the hairs ... view
|
|
flakey skin (dog) (18-Feb-07 09:41PM)
Michelle asks:
Be Be is a healthy 3 year old female cocker, but has flakes in her coat which I assume is from her skin? Use a nurtraderm shampoo but does not clear ... view
|
|
Blood in dog's stools (dog) (31-Oct-07 08:53AM)
Lee asks:
Hi. We recently got a 3 year old Labrador from a friend. From what we can see she has a little weight problem as she was not walked regularly which we ... view
|
|
wobbly hind legs (dog) (29-May-07 02:38PM)
Ruth asks:
7 lb. Shi Tzu, 5 years old, otherwise healthy, is refusing to walk (but will go outside for short periods). I can see her wrist and elbow joints wobbling when ... view
|
|
upset stomach (dog) (30-Jan-07 02:09PM)
Karen asks:
My dog's poo is runny most of the time. We keep him on the same food. We have only had him since October last year. We took him on as a ... view
|
|
name change (dog) (16-Aug-07 09:30PM)
Melanie asks:
I was thinking of purchasing an 11 month old american bull do. It already has a name, do you think it would be inappropriate and confusing for the dog to change ... view
|
|
Lump on my dog's head (dog) (24-Jan-07 01:24PM)
 Tom asks:
My dog has had a lump on his head for about 3 months now and I am a bit worried about it because it seems to be bleeding from time to ... view
|
|
Poisoned intestines, Husky (dog) (02-Apr-07 03:52PM)
Debra asks:
Samantha you were very helpful with my question in the beginning of March 03.04.07 about Patches. My baby past away last Wednesday on the way to the vet! In February ... view
|
|
colitis (dog) (31-May-07 06:40PM)
Ruth asks:
Is it acceptable to give milk products like yogurt and cheese for dog with occasional colitis or would it cause a bout of colitis ? I would discontinue when colitis ... view
|
|
Skin and ear problem (dog) (29-Jan-07 08:02PM)
Audra asks:
Dylan has had a problem with a rash, which is mainly on his stomach and an ear infection since October. He has had three lots of antibiotics and one course of ... view
|
|
behaviour (dog) (31-Oct-07 12:54PM)
Debby asks:
Hi Max is very lively of course but he seems to get very excited and bites the children, not hard or breaking the skin but nevertheless painful. He has all his ... view
|
|
removing haematoma (dog) (19-Jun-07 11:16PM)
Michelle asks:
Len has a haematoma in his left outer ear. I have been advised to get it removed (drained) before it hardens and to do this he will need a ... view
|
|
Arthritis (na) (25-Feb-07 02:19PM)
Sheila asks:
Bonnie, Our 10yr old jack russell had pancreatitis a few years ago but is OK now. If I give her Metacam from the vet for her arthritis, is it likely ... view
|
|
Large red blisters appear with dry skin (dog) (28-Jan-07 03:09PM)
Elizabeth asks:
My dog's skin seems to be infected with round red blisters that dry and the skin flakes off. His skin also feels very bumpy below these blisters. Is this a ... view
|
|
|  |
Your Questions Answered
|
Injured Wild Owl 30-Nov-07
Kelly asks:
I found an owl this morning, very small but adult. It flew into a power line. It's still alive. ... view
|
|
swollen hind leg 20-Nov-07
 Zshai asks:
I have a 6-day-old bunny who has a swollen hind leg. I saw her mama step on her but ... view
|
|
Sick syrian hamster 08-Nov-07
Sara asks:
Hi. My syrian hamster is 2 and half yrs. old. The last 24 hrs I have noticed a big ... view
|
|
lack of sleep 07-Nov-07
Bill asks:
We have a 14 month old Yorkshire terrier, which goes to bed at around 6.30pm, because I have MS ... view
|
|
wet tail 06-Nov-07
Evelyn asks:
Can a young hamster be successfully treated for wet tail and what would it roughly cost? ... view
|
|
Alfie 06-Nov-07
Elaine asks:
Hi Sam
Thank you. Alfie has no feeding time he just has food in his bowl when he wants it ... view
|
|
Guarding problem 05-Nov-07
 Elaine asks:
Alfie is a terrible guarder and will take your hand off if you try and retrieve an object he ... view
|
|
White Gums and Dark Stool 02-Nov-07
Leslie asks:
My 8 week old American Bulldog has really white gums, around the eyes is also white. She has dark ... view
|
|
Dog's Health 01-Nov-07
William asks:
My dog is around 11 years old, possibly older (we received her as she was taken from a bad ... view
|
|
behaviour 31-Oct-07
Debby asks:
Hi Max is very lively of course but he seems to get very excited and bites the children, not ... view
|
|
Blood in dog's stools 31-Oct-07
Lee asks:
Hi. We recently got a 3 year old Labrador from a friend. From what we can see she has ... view
|
|
upset stomach 30-Oct-07
kat asks:
About three days ago my dog started acting like she was sick; diarrhoea and vomiting along with excessive sneezing ... view
|
|
Blood in Poo 28-Oct-07
Mandy asks:
Treacle is now 9 wks old and had her first vaccination two days ago. I have noticed that at ... view
|
|
neutering 27-Oct-07
 ashen1956 asks:
3 days ago Molly-Mae gave birth to 5 kittens. How long should I wait before having her neutered and ... view
|
|
Ordering Insulin Online 26-Oct-07
Purdie asks:
Purdie is diabetic and I'm keen to find a way of reducing the cost of the treatment. Currently ... view
|
|
Fleas and skin problem 26-Oct-07
Joanne asks:
I have two cats, a neutered tom and his sister. They are 6 and a half yrs. old. They ... view
|
|
My cat has a hole in its stomach! 23-Oct-07
Sarah asks:
My cat has a hole the size of a dime in its stomach. He doesn't seem to be ... view
|
|
labrador vomiting bile and nearly passing out 22-Oct-07
Paul asks:
Hi there - our five year old male labrador is generally in very good health - excellent appetite, plenty ... view
|
|
Guinea pig fits 22-Oct-07
Renate asks:
My guinea pig is acting strange. I've only had him around a week and he's running as if spooked ... view
|
|
feeding 22-Oct-07
Terry asks:
Is it safe to feed my GSD raw chicken wings, he is 16 months old and is 37 kg? ... view
|
|
|
