Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?

No, dogs can’t eat chocolate. Chocolate is harmless to us but toxic to dogs because it contains substances called theobromine and caffeine, and neither is safe for them. The real concern here is the theobromine, the main ingredient we worry about. The good news is that even though chocolate is toxic, most dogs recover after eating it—but a lot depends on YOU!

The best advice is to always keep chocolate out of your dog’s reach. But if your dog does get into it, knowing the type of chocolate they ate and how much they ate will help your vet figure out what to do next.

dark, milk and white chocolate and a dog

Table Of Contents

Since I never speculate, especially about a serious topic like dogs and chocolate poisoning, I’ll be using this study about chocolate toxicity in dogs as a reference throughout my article! I do this for all my articles, but this time, I want to make sure that you’re reading everything thoroughly and that you’re taking notes so you can act quickly in case of accidents!

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?

Chocolate might be one of our favorite treats, but it’s a different story for dogs. The reason it’s so dangerous comes down to two compounds: theobromine and caffeine.

Dogs can’t metabolize these as quickly as we can, so even a small amount can build up to toxic levels in their system. On top of that, chocolate is high in fat, which can upset a dog’s stomach even if they don’t eat enough to cause full-blown poisoning.

What is theobromine, and what does it do to dogs?

Theobromine is a natural compound found in chocolate and is similar to caffeine. While people can process theobromine quickly, dogs break it down much slower, so it builds up to toxic levels in their bodies.

When a dog eats chocolate, the theobromine can overstimulate their nervous system and increase their heart rate, leading to symptoms like:

restlessness
muscle tremors
vomiting
diarrhea

In more severe cases, it can even cause:

seizures
or heart issues.

How toxic it is depends on how much your dog ate and the size of your dog. That’s why everyone says even tiny amounts can be dangerous since your dog may be a tiny chihuahua.

How dangerous is caffeine to dogs?

Caffeine is very dangerous to dogs, as it’s also a stimulant that affects the brain, heart, and digestive system. Unlike theobromine, the dose of caffeine in chocolate is not that high to cause toxicity, but still, it’s important to know about this.

After dogs ingest caffeine, they may suffer from:

hyperactivity
increased heart rate
vomiting
and even seizures.

A lot of drinks that we usually enjoy have caffeine, not just coffee! This includes coke, tea, energy drinks, hydrating cubes, powder electrolyte drinks, and also chocolate! Be careful, as symptoms of caffeine toxicity in dogs appear between 1 and 2 hours after consuming!

A small amount of caffeine may not be dangerous, but the amount depends on how big your dog is.

If you suspect your dog got into something with a lot of caffeine, watch out for symptoms like increased heart rate, hyperactivity, and distress, and get them to the vet ASAP!

Caffeine toxicity in dogs can happen with as little as 9 mg of caffeine per pound of body weight, while severe toxicity typically starts around 75 mg per pound.

For reference, a cup of coffee contains about 95mg of caffeine, so even a small amount can be dangerous for smaller dogs.

Does chocolate have enough caffeine for it to be toxic to dogs?

Now, it all depends on the type of chocolate, but dark chocolate has about 80mg of caffeine per 100g. The problem is that caffeine, along with theobromine, increases the danger of toxicity, especially for small dogs. But, usually, the answer is no; chocolate doesn’t have enough caffeine to be toxic to dogs. Still, it doesn’t mean it’s safe!

Can dogs eat white chocolate?

White chocolate doesn’t have the cocoa bits and a high percentage of cocoa, so it’s not dangerous to dogs. Actually, it’s not toxic to dogs at all, even though the cocoa butter in white chocolate contains traces of theobromine.

The reason why white chocolate is bad for dogs is the combination of fat and sugar. It’s the worst combination for your dog’s health and the biggest reason why some dogs develop pancreatitis.

White chocolate is not toxic to dogs

Dogs shouldn’t eat white chocolate, but nothing that bad will happen if they manage to grab some. If it’s a one-time thing only, the worst thing you can expect is some stomach issues and diarrhea but not toxicity.

Can dogs eat dark chocolate?

No, dogs shouldn’t eat dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has the highest percentage of cocoa, which means it has the most theobromine and caffeine—both toxic to dogs.

For example, a single ounce of 85% dark chocolate (like Lindt) has enough theobromine to be potentially harmful to a small dog. Even a small amount, like 0.5 ounces per pound of body weight, can be toxic, so it doesn’t take much dark chocolate to put your dog at risk.

What happens when a dog eats chocolate?

When dogs eat chocolate, the first signs you might notice are vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive thirst, often because of the fat content. But once the theobromine kicks in, things can get much worse. You may see symptoms like:

Hyperactivity or restlessness
Muscle twitching
Increased urination
Excessive panting
Rapid heart rate
Tremors or seizures in severe cases

These symptoms usually appear within a couple of hours, but they can take up to 24 hours to show up, and recovery might take several days. If a dog eats enough chocolate, it can even lead to heart arrhythmias or death.

How much chocolate is toxic to dogs?

This is from the study about chocolate toxicity and dogs.

The lethal dose of theobromine is reported to be 100-500 mg/kg of body weight in dogs. However, not all types of chocolate contain the same amount of theobromine: cocoa powder and plain chocolate contain the highest concentrations (20 mg/g and 15 mg/g), milk chocolate has much less (2 mg/g), and white chocolate has the lowest concentration (0.1 mg/g). Thus, less than 100 g of plain chocolate may be fatal for a 10 kg dog.

Finlay, F., & Guiton, S. (2005). Chocolate poisoning. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 331(7517), 633. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1215566/

The type of chocolate matters a lot when it comes to toxicity. Here’s a quick breakdown of how much is dangerous for a 20-pound dog:

White chocolate: You don’t need to worry much about white chocolate when it comes to theobromine toxicity, as white chocolate has 0% cocoa solids. White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa solids, only cocoa butter, which is why its theobromine levels are minimal. It would take about 55 pounds (25 kg) of white chocolate to cause neurological symptoms in a 20-pound (9 kg) dog, but even small amounts can still cause digestive upset due to the high-fat content.

Milk chocolate: Milk chocolate typically contains around 10-20% cocoa solids, depending on the brand. About 1 pound (0.45 kg or 454 grams) of milk chocolate can cause serious symptoms for a 20-pound (9 kg) dog due to the combination of theobromine and caffeine, as well as the fat content.

Semi-sweet chocolate: This type, which is commonly used in baking and contains around 35-50% cocoa solids, is more dangerous. Just 6 ounces (170 grams) can be toxic to the nervous system of a 20-pound (9 kg) dog because of the higher theobromine concentration.

Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate and the ones we use for baking are the most dangerous, often containing 70-90% cocoa solids. Just two small squares, which are about 2 ounces (56 grams), can be enough to cause severe toxicity in a 20-pound (9 kg) dog. This type of chocolate has the highest concentration of theobromine and caffeine, making it highly toxic even in small amounts.

How much chocolate can dogs eat? What amount of chocolate is “safe”?

None is the right answer, but we all can experience these scares. That’s why I’m writing this to offer peace of mind so you don’t worry.

Type of Chocolate	Small Dog (6.6 lbs / 3 kg)	Medium Dog (20 lbs / 9 kg)	Large Dog (44 lbs / 20 kg)	Giant Breed (77 lbs / 35 kg)
White Chocolate	8 kg	25 kg	56 kg	97 kg
Milk Chocolate	150 g	450 g	1 kg	1.75 kg
Semi-sweet Chocolate	57 g	170 g	378 g	661 g
Dark Chocolate	19 g	56 g	124 g	218 g

Can dogs eat vegan chocolate?

Dogs should not eat vegan chocolate, as it often contains cocoa powder or cacao, which can still be toxic to them. While vegan chocolate doesn’t contain dairy, it may still have the same harmful compounds found in traditional chocolate, such as theobromine and caffeine.

Even in small amounts, these substances can cause adverse effects, including vomiting, increased heart rate, and, in severe cases, seizures.

Cocoa Mass/Cocoa Liquor: Made from ground cocoa beans, this is the primary ingredient that provides the chocolate flavor.

Cocoa Butter: The fat extracted from cocoa beans gives chocolate its creamy texture.

What to do if your dog eats chocolate

If your dog manages to get into chocolate, it’s important to act quickly.

Call your vet immediately, especially if you know how much chocolate they ate. If you react quickly, the vet may make your dog vomit (sometimes by giving them hydrogen peroxide). In more severe cases, medications might be needed to lower your dog’s heart rate or blood pressure.

You can’t do this yourself, unless you have a vet on the line!

You should never, ever give your dog hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting or give them activated charcoal. Unless it’s an emergency and you don’t have access to a vet or live in rural areas where it will take a while to reach one.

In those cases, I suggest you:

Call your vet
If your vet is not available or if it’s the middle of the night, call the poison helpline.
- Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435 (there’s an initial consultation fee, but then the follow-up conversation won’t be charged).

What will vets do for chocolate poisoning in dogs

According to ASCPA, most dogs recover from eating chocolate! This is a really good thing to know; now, in order to take care of your dog, you need to watch out for several things and come to the vet prepared!

When your dog eats chocolate, it’s essential to note down:

what type of chocolate they ate (dark, milk, chocolate cake)

if you can find the chocolate paper or box, bring it to the vet

how much they ate

when it all happened.

The signs of chocolate poisoning don’t show up immediately and can take up to eight hours, so there’s a window to respond. Your job is to get them to the vet ASAP if you think they ate much! You can check our approximate table above (and please take it with a grain of salt; it just has an approximate amount, but still, it can help!).

Watch for signs like:

vomiting
diarrhea
hyperactivity
or muscle tremors.

If your dog starts showing these symptoms, it’s essential to call your vet.

Some cases may require inducing vomiting, but if your dog is already vomiting or very agitated, it might not be a good idea. According to ASPCA, activated charcoal, which is often used to absorb toxins, isn’t always recommended for chocolate cases, especially since it can worsen dehydration. In fact, chocolate is high in sugar and acts as a diuretic, causing fluid loss, so giving more charcoal can complicate things.

The main focus of treatment usually involves managing any gastrointestinal issues and helping your dog flush out the toxins. Your vet might give fluids to keep your dog hydrated and to support their kidneys, especially if they’re vomiting or have diarrhea. If your dog becomes too hyperactive or starts having muscle tremors, medications like diazepam or acepromazine can help calm them down. If their heart rate stays high, a beta-blocker might be needed to regulate it.

The good news is that most dogs recover well with proper treatment. Serious complications or fatalities are rare if your dog gets the right care in time, so the prognosis is usually good.

Cocoa mulch is dangerous too

One thing that’s easy to overlook is cocoa mulch, often used in gardens. It contains high levels of theobromine and can smell like chocolate, making it tempting for dogs to eat. Just like real chocolate, it can be toxic, so keep your dog away from any freshly spread mulch. A good thing is to water it down to reduce the chocolate smell if you’ve already used it in your garden.

Home care and prevention after chocolate poisoning

Once your dog has been treated, you’ll want to keep a close eye on them at home. Watch for signs of hyperactivity, tremors, or seizures, and make sure they’re eating and drinking you’vely.

Your vet will recommend sticking to regular dog food or a bland diet for a couple of days to help soothe any lingering stomach upset. The best solution is to keep chocolate and chocolate products completely out of reach—dogs love chocolate just as much as we do. dothey’rit’s definitely not worth the risk.

And what about other chocolate products? Just how dangerous are they?

We have already written about how Nutella is not suitable for dogs, and we explained that even though it has some chocolate, it doesn’t contain enough pure chocolate to cause serious issues. So Nutella is not toxic in a way chocolate is.

Chocolate chip cookies are also not great because they’re high in sugar and just empty calories, but they’re not toxic.

When it comes to ice cream, well, all ice cream is not good for dogs (unless you make dog-friendly ice cream from pumpkin and yogurt), but chocolate ice cream is not toxic to dogs. t’s the high percentage of cocoa in chocolate that you should worry about! And you won’t find that in most chocolate ice creams.

So, I hope I provided guidance, support, and resources so you can educate yourself on the dangers of chocolate for dogs. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Love, life, and fur forever!

FAQs

Why can humans eat chocolate, but dogs can’t?

It’s because people can break down theobromine, the toxic substance in chocolate, pretty quickly and safely (in the same way as we drink caffeine). Dogs can’t process theobromine as quickly as humans, so it stays in their system and builds up toxins, which then leads to health issues.

Can dogs eat a tiny bit of chocolate?

They really shouldn’t, but a tiny piece of chocolate won’t have too much theobromine, so it won’t cause problems. However, if you have a small dog, even a small amount can cause some issues. It’s best to avoid giving them any chocolate at all.

Can big dogs eat chocolate?

While bigger dogs may tolerate more chocolate than smaller dogs, it’s still harmful. The risk of toxicity is always present, so chocolate should be off-limits for all dogs.

Can dogs eat artificial chocolate?

Artificial chocolate usually doesn’t contain theobromine, but it may have unhealthy ingredients like sugar or xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. It’s better to avoid giving dogs any type of chocolate, real or artificial.