Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs clear very slowly — they can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.
- Work out what was eaten and how much — keep the wrapper.
- Use the calculator above, then call your vet or a poison line straight away, even if your dog seems fine.
- If it was within the last couple of hours, a vet can often make your dog vomit it up safely. Don't try this at home unless a vet tells you to.
Call your vet or a 24/7 animal poison line now: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661
- What makes it harmful
- Theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthines)
- Harmful amount
- Signs from about 20 mg theobromine per kg; severe from 40 mg/kg; seizures above 60 mg/kg — use the calculator
- Signs appear
- Usually within 6–12 hours; signs can last up to 72 hours
How much chocolate is too much? Check the dose
An estimate from published theobromine levels, not a diagnosis. Chocolate varies by brand and cocoa content — very dark bars (70%+ cocoa) can be far stronger than "dark"; pick baking chocolate for those to be safe.
Symptoms to watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Restlessness, panting
- Racing or irregular heartbeat
- Tremors
- Seizures
Why
Theobromine is found in the cocoa solids, so baking chocolate and cocoa powder carry many times more than milk chocolate, and white chocolate almost none. Small dogs reach a dangerous dose with surprisingly little.
The fat and sugar in chocolate can also upset the stomach and, in some dogs, trigger pancreatitis — even when the theobromine dose is low.
Sources
General information checked against published veterinary sources. Every dog is different — ask your vet before changing its diet, and call them if it seems unwell.