Can dogs eat chocolate? Chocolate is toxic to dogs - a warning for owners

How much chocolate is dangerous for a dog?

You should make sure your dog avoids chocolate. However, if your dog does manage to eat some, this isn’t necessarily fatal. A dog weighing 10 kilos can eat up to 20 grams of dark chocolate without needing to see a vet or be taken to the hospital

Up to 200 grams of light chocolate should not cause any serious complications. But four times that amount – 800g – can be fatal.

Things like pralines and chocolates with fillings often have less chocolate content. If your dog has ingested a large amount of chocolate, you need to seek medical advice immediately as your vet will need to make your dog vomit.

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?

Chocolate contains cocoa. And cocoa contains both theobromine and caffeine – which are toxic to dogs.

How much chocolate a dog can handle depends on the size of the dog and the amount of theobromine in the chocolate that the dog has ingested. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs

• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Increased thirst
• Incontinence
• Tremors
• Increased salivation
• Palpitation

What happens if dogs eat chocolate?

Usually, the dog starts vomiting within 2-4 hours after ingestion. The dog may become anxious, urinate profusely and later it may have convulsions.

What should I do if my dog ​​ate chocolate?

Try to estimate how much the dog has eaten and find out how much cocoa the chocolate contains. Contact a veterinarian if your dog has ingested a large amount of chocolate or shows symptoms of poisoning.

Treatment of chocolate poisoning in dogs

If your dog has recently ingested chocolate, the vet may try to induce vomiting to avoid poisoning and give the dog charcoal.

If the dog has already developed symptoms, the vet treats it based on their judgement. In case of symptoms such as heart palpitations or convulsions, the dog needs to be treated at a clinic. 

Prevent your dog from getting chocolate poisoning

Avoid your dog suffering from chocolate poisoning by storing chocolate out of reach of your dog – and be sure to keep chocolate under your prevision when it comes out.