Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?

Whether it’s in a bar, cookie, cake or ice cream — chocolate is a delicious, sweet treat. While we know it doesn’t come with a long list of health benefits and we should eat it in moderation, it won’t do us any harm. But, can dogs eat chocolate? 

The answer is a definite no - and it’s not just because of the lack of health benefits. Chocolate is actually incredibly poisonous for dogs, and therefore something you should never let them get hold of. 

Keep reading to find out why it’s poisonous to our pups and what you should do if your dog does eat some chocolate. 

We know they can’t eat it but why is chocolate bad for dogs? Well, it’s toxic to them because it contains theobromine and caffeine. 

Theobromine is particularly dangerous to them but both will stimulate their nervous system and speed up their heart rate. Dogs can’t metabolize theobromine and caffeine as well as we can and therefore are more sensitive to the effects. 

Depending on the type and amount of chocolate consumed, a dog may experience symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening. 

While you now know you should never feed chocolate to them, dogs often have a way of getting hold of things they shouldn’t. Perhaps you were making chocolate chip cookies and accidentally spilled a few on the floor and your dog — who has been watching your every move, of course — gets to them before you can.

So, if your pup has got hold of some chocolate and quickly gobbled it down before you could stop them, then you’ll urgently want to know how much chocolate is toxic to a dog. 

This actually depends on a few things — the type of chocolate and the size of your pup. 

The type of chocolate is relevant because the theobromine content will vary. Generally, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more theobromine it has. Cocoa powder is the most toxic while milk chocolate is the least toxic.  

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), this is when you will likely see the signs of theobromine poisoning:

• Mild — from 20 mg/kg 
• Severe (cardiac symptoms) — 40 to 50 mg/kg
• Seizures — from 60 mg/kg

Note that these doses refer to per kilogram of body weight, so an amount that wouldn’t hurt a Labrador Retriever could potentially land a Chihuahua in the emergency clinic. For a small breed of dog, eating a whole bar of dark chocolate could result in a very serious situation indeed. A large breed nibbling on a small chunk of milk chocolate should be much less of a problem.

If you know what they’ve eaten, how much and their weight, then you can use this chocolate toxicity calculator to work out the risk. 

You only want to feed your dog pet food that’s going to be beneficial to their health. Check out our friends over at Dog Food Advisor for advice including the best fresh dog food and the best natural dog food. 

Whether you saw your dog eat the chocolate or suspect they may have scoffed some, you need to know what to do next. 

Here’s what you should do if you believe your pup has eaten chocolate:

• Call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680) for advice. Getting your pet help immediately increases their chance of surviving a chocolate poisoning.
  
  
• Collect any remaining packaging to help your vet or helpline staff determine how much and what type of chocolate was ingested. Note if the product has other ingredients that are also toxic to dogs such as raisins, macadamia nuts, or xylitol. 
  
  
• Based on the information you provide and if your dog is not showing any symptoms, you may be advised to monitor your dog and call back if their condition worsens.
  
  
• If your dog is exhibiting symptoms, has eaten an unknown or toxic amount, is pregnant, or has other health conditions, bring them to the vet right away. While symptoms may not develop until hours after ingestion, the sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome will be.
  
  
• Treatment of chocolate toxicity tends to include vomit induction, provision of activated charcoal and starting the patient on an IV fluid drip. When treated promptly, the prognosis is very good.
  
  

Always follow the advice of a professional and do not try to induce vomiting on your own. 

Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours after ingestion and can last up to 72 hours. 

Common signs of chocolate poisoning to look out for, include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Panting and restlessness
• Increased thirst and urination
• Elevated or abnormal heart rate
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Collapse
• Heart failure

Dogs may also develop aspiration pneumonia from vomiting or pancreatitis due to the high fat content of many chocolate products. 

Sadly, dogs can die from eating chocolate. While it’s not always fatal, this is why you should never take the risk. 

A fatal reaction is much more likely for small dogs that have eaten a large amount of chocolate rather than large dogs that have eaten a small amount of chocolate.

That said, even if a large breed dog has eaten a tiny amount of milk chocolate you should still keep an eye on them and look out for the symptoms of chocolate poisoning — while it’s less likely, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Likewise, dogs with heart conditions and senior dogs are more at risk of sudden death from chocolate poisoning. 

Yes, dogs like chocolate, as evidenced by the fact that numerous canines are treated for ingesting the sweet treat every year. In fact, chocolate is consistently on the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) list of top pet toxins each year. 

Our canine pals have 1,700 taste buds and have the ability to detect sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastes. So, dogs can have a sweet tooth too, which is why it’s especially important to store any chocolate products out of their reach.  

But, of course, chocolate comes in so many different forms, so is there any chocolate dogs can eat?

No. Chocolate cake contains ingredients that are bad for dogs, including cocoa powder and sugar. Cocoa powder has high levels of theobromine and is very toxic to dogs. 

No. Ice cream that contains chocolate in any form, be it flavoring, chunks, chips, or swirl, is a no-no for dogs. Ice cream is also full of sugar and fat which are bad for dogs. Moreover, most dogs are lactose intolerant and could get an upset stomach from eating ice cream.

No, dogs shouldn't consume chocolate milk. This can have the same poisoning effects as any other chocolate, as well as dietary issues from the milk itself. 

Although white chocolate contains almost no theobromine, dogs can still get sick from its high fat and sugar content. Sugar and fat can lead to stomach upset or even pancreatitis in severe cases.

So, while there may not be any cocoa in a piece of white chocolate, you should still keep it out of reach of your dog. 

While dogs should avoid all types of human chocolate, there is specifically designed chocolate for dogs, which is perfectly safe for them to eat. This often contains carob — look out for this on the label. 

Alternatively, you can feed them fruits and vegetables that, as well as being safe, are healthy and delicious for them. 

Dogs have a sweet tooth and are known for getting into things they shouldn’t. Regardless of their size, dogs should never be fed chocolate and all chocolate products should be kept out of their reach to keep them safe. While chocolate poisoning is not always fatal, it’s definitely not worth the risk.