What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs

What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Chocolate?

If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, or they have any of these symptoms, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian or emergency vet right away:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased body temperature
  • Increased reflex responses
  • Muscle rigidity
  • Rapid breathing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Low blood pressure
  • Seizures
  • Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)

Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your dog has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit!

COMMON CHOCOLATE SOURCES:

Ice Cream Rich Chocolate
Serving: 1 cup ( 148g)
Theobromine: 178mg
Caffeine: 5.9mg

KIT KAT Wafer Bar
Serving: 1 bar (42g)
Theobromine: 48.7mg
Caffeine: 5.9mg

Peanut M&M's
Serving: 1 cup (170g)
Theobromine: 184mg
Caffeine: 17mg

REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups (2pk)
Serving: 2 cups (45g)
Theobromine: 32.4mg
Caffeine: 3.2mg

Ready to Eat Chocolate Pudding
Serving: 4 oz (108g)
Theobromine: 75.6mg
Caffeine: 2.2mg

Doughnut, cake-type, chocolate, sugared or glazed
Serving: 1 Doughnut (3' dia) (43g)
Theobromine: 12.6mg
Caffeine: 0.6mg

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar
Serving: 1.55 oz (43g)
Theobromine: 64mg
Caffeine: 9mg

Chocolate Chip Cookies , made with margarine
Serving: 1 Cookie Med (2 1/4" dia) (16g)
Theobromine: 20.3mg
Caffeine: 2.6mg

Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Serving: 2 Tbsp (39g)
Theobromine: 64mg
Caffeine: 5mg

Milky Way
Serving: 1 bar (58g)
Theobromine: 37.1 mg
Caffeine: 3.5mg

Hershey's KISSES (Milk Chocolate)
Serving: 9 pieces (41g)
Theobromine: 61mg
Caffeine: 9mg

Generic Hot Fudge Sundae Topping
Serving: 1 Sundae (158g)
Theobromine: 77.4mg
Caffeine: 1.6mg

Hershey's Semi-Sweet Baking Bar
Serving: 1 Tbsp (15g)
Theobromine: 55mg
Caffeine: 7mg

REESE'S PIECES Candy
Serving: 1 package (46g)
Theobromine: 0mg
Caffeine: 0mg

Cookies, brownies, commercially prepared
Serving: 1 Square (2 –3/4" sq x 7/8") (56g)
Theobromine: 43.7mg
Caffeine: 1.1mg

aThe amount of caffeine and theobromine will vary naturally due to growing conditions and cocoa bean sources and variety.

Foods Highest in Theobromine

Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened, processed with alkali [Dutch cocoa] 1 cup (86g) 2266 mg 67.1 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, squares 1 cup, grated (132g) 1712 mg 106 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened 1 cup (86g) 1769 mg 198 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, liquid 1 oz (28g) 447 mg 13.2 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, regular, dry mix 1 Package (40g) 238 mg 7.2 mg
Desserts, rennin, chocolate, dry mix 1 Package, 2 oz (57g) 242 mg 7.4 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, instant, dry mix 1 Package, 1.4oz box (40g) 189 mg 5.6 mg
Syrups, chocolate, HERSHEY'S Genuine Chocolate Flavored Lite Syrup 2 tbsp (35g) 68.3 mg 2.1 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, processed with alkali 1 oz (28g) 685 mg 20.2 mg
Candies, chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids I bar (101g) 810 mg 80.8 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, plain 1 Tbsp (5g) 92.6 mg 10.3mg

What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?

Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. In general, though, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger.

For instance, 8 ounces (a ½ pound) of milk chocolate may sicken a 50-pound dog, whereas a dog of the same size can be poisoned by as little as 1 ounce of Baker's chocolate!

Why Isn't Chocolate Toxic to Humans?

Humans can break down and excrete methylxanthines such as theobromine much more efficiently than dogs.

"CAFFEINE & THEOBROMINE." The Hershey Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.
"Nutrition Information." Nutrition Facts, Calories in Food, Labels, Nutritional Information and Analysis – NutritionData.com. Condé Nast, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.

How long does it take for a dog to show signs of chocolate poisoning?

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and could cause a medical emergency. Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours.

Can a dog recover from chocolate poisoning?

The ASPCA Poison Control estimates twenty-five percent of dogs with chocolate poisoning recover within two days, however even with treatment, one in one hundred dogs with chocolate poisoning never recover.

What if my dog ate chocolate but seems fine?

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs mostly because of its theobromine content, which dogs are unable to metabolize effectively. If your dog eats chocolate, you should monitor them closely and seek veterinary attention if they show any symptoms, or if they are very young, pregnant or have other health concerns.

How long does it take to get chocolate out of a dog's system?

A vet will be able to act quickly to treat all signs of poisoning. Generally, with prompt treatment, dogs that have eaten chocolate are back to their usual selves within a day or two.