My dog ate chocolate. Is it an emergency?
Do this first
- Work out roughly what type and how much, and note the time.
- Call poison control or your vet. Do it now rather than waiting for symptoms.
- Do not make your dog vomit unless you are told to.
- Keep the wrapper. The type of chocolate changes the answer completely.
It depends almost entirely on the type
Chocolate is dangerous because of theobromine, a stimulant that people clear in a few hours and dogs take around 17 hours to process. That slow clearance is why it accumulates and why dogs are affected at doses that would do nothing to us.
The amount of theobromine varies enormously between types. This is the single most important thing to establish.
| Type | Theobromine per ounce | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| White chocolate | About 0.25 mg | Effectively no theobromine risk. The fat and sugar may cause an upset stomach. |
| Milk chocolate | About 58 mg | The most common exposure. Roughly 1 oz per 6 lb of dog reaches the level where vomiting starts. |
| Dark / semisweet | About 150 mg | Around 2.5 times the risk of milk chocolate, ounce for ounce. |
| Baking / unsweetened | About 390 mg | A single ounce is serious for a small dog. |
| Cocoa powder | About 737 mg | The most dangerous form found in most kitchens. |
The thresholds vets use
Risk is measured in milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of body weight. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives these bands:
| Dose | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Under 20 mg/kg | Usually mild or nothing. Watch for 12 hours. |
| 20 mg/kg | Vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst and urination, restlessness. |
| 40 to 50 mg/kg | Effects on the heart. Racing or irregular heartbeat. |
| 60 mg/kg and above | Seizures become possible. This is an emergency. |
A worked example: a 20 lb dog (about 9 kg) that eats 4 oz of milk chocolate takes in roughly 232 mg of theobromine, which is about 26 mg/kg — into the range where vomiting is likely. The same dog eating 4 oz of baking chocolate takes in about 1,560 mg, or 173 mg/kg, which is a genuine emergency.
If you are not sure how much is gone, assume the worst case. Say that on the phone. Vets would much rather assess a dog who ate less than feared than treat one who ate more than reported.
Symptoms, and when they appear
Signs usually begin within 6 to 12 hours and can last several days because of the slow clearance.
- Early: vomiting, diarrhoea, unusual thirst, restlessness or agitation
- Building: panting, pacing, a racing heart, muscle tremors
- Severe: collapse, seizures, irregular heart rhythm
What the vet will do
If you get there within about two hours, they will often induce vomiting safely and give activated charcoal to limit absorption. Beyond that, treatment is supportive: intravenous fluids to speed clearance, medication to control heart rate and seizures, and monitoring. Theobromine is recirculated by the body, so charcoal is sometimes repeated.
Most dogs treated promptly recover completely. The deaths that do occur are usually in small dogs that ate dark or baking chocolate and were not brought in.
Common questions
My dog ate chocolate a day ago and seems fine. Should I still call?
If more than 24 hours have passed with no symptoms at all, serious poisoning is unlikely. It is still worth a phone call, particularly for a small dog or a dark chocolate exposure, because theobromine clears slowly.
Is white chocolate safe for dogs?
It is not meaningfully toxic, because it contains almost no theobromine. It is still fat and sugar, which can cause an upset stomach or, in larger amounts, pancreatitis.
What about chocolate with raisins or macadamias?
That makes it worse, and it changes the priority. Raisins have no established safe dose and can cause kidney failure. Mention the other ingredients first when you call.
Should I make my dog vomit at home?
Not unless a vet or poison control tells you to and talks you through it. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly suggested online and can cause serious stomach damage.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice for your individual dog. Thresholds are from the Merck Veterinary Manual and the ASPCA. If your dog is unwell, call one of the numbers above rather than reading on.