It’s the time of year again when children will soon be running around the streets dressed as ghosts, witches, princesses, pirates, and random animals and cartoon characters. They’ll be bringing home lots of goodies to eat–and hey, as parents/aunts/uncles/grandparents, you have the right to partake as well! But there is a family member that should not partake in any Halloween chocolate, and that member is the dog!
Why is chocolate toxic?
Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains the methylxanthine theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. It is used medicinally as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and a smooth muscle relaxant. Theobromine can be poisonous and result in severe clinical signs, especially if untreated.
Toxic doses and clinical signs
Toxic doses of theobromine are reported to be as low as 20 mg/kg, where agitation, hyperactivity and gastrointestinal signs (such as drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea – all which may smell like chocolate) can be seen. At doses > 40 mg/kg, cardiac signs can be seen, and include a racing heart rate, high blood pressure, or even heart arrhythmias. At doses > 60 mg/kg, neurologic signs can be seen, and include tremors, twitching, and even seizures. Fatalities have been seen at around 200 mg/kg (approximately 100 mg/lb), or when complications occur. Other symptoms can include increased thirst, increased urination, and lethargy. It is also possible to have complications such as aspiration pneumonia from vomiting. Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning can take several hours to develop, and can last for days due to the long half-life of theobromine.
Different kinds of chocolate=varying amounts of theobromine
The amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker and the more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to your pets. See the chart below for the amounts of theobromie and caffeine in different kinds of chocolate. White chocolate barely poses any threat of chocolate poisoning, with only 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate (that said, dogs can still get sick from all that fat and sugar, resulting in pancreatitis!). For a medium size dog weighing 50 pounds it would take only 1 ounce of baker’s chocolate or 8 ounces of milk chocolate to potentially show signs of poisoning.
| Amount methylxanthine (mg/oz) | ||
| Compound |
Theobromine (mg/oz) |
Caffeine (mg/oz) |
| White chocolate |
0.25 |
0.85 |
| Milk chocolate |
58 |
6 |
| Dark, sweet chocolate |
130 |
20 |
| Semi-sweet chocolate chips |
138 |
22 |
| Baker’s (unsweetened) chocolate |
393 |
47 |
| Dry cocoa powder |
737 |
70 |
| Instant cocoa powder |
136 |
15 |
| Cocoa beans |
600 |
600 |
| Cocoa bean hulls |
255 |
NA |
Dr. Susan Barrett, Capital Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, 12/4/2007
My dog ate chocolate–now what?
When in doubt, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline to see if a poisonous amount of chocolate was ingested to begin with. If so, your veterinarian may want to induce vomiting, provided your dog isn’t showing any clinical signs. If a toxic amount is ingested, you should have your pet examined by a veterinarian immediately. The sooner the theobromine is removed from the body or the pet is stabilized, the better your dog’s prognosis.
What is the treatment for chocolate poisoning?
Treatment depends on the amount and type of chocolate eaten. If treated early, removal of the chocolate from the stomach by administering medications to induce vomiting and administration of activated charcoal to block absorption of theobromine into the body may be all that is necessary. Activated charcoal may be administered every four to six hours for the first twenty-four hours to reduce the continued resorption and recirculation of theobromine.
It is very common to provide supportive treatments such as intravenous fluid therapy to help dilute the toxin and promote its excretion. All dogs ingesting chocolate should be closely monitored for any signs of agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, nervousness, irregular heart rhythm, and high blood pressure. Often, medications to slow the heart rate (e.g., beta-blockers) may be necessary to treat the elevated heart rate and arrhythmia.
onions, macademia nuts, grapes, raisins, moldy food, avocado, xylitol found in chewing gum
*Pet Poison Helpline is an animal poison control service based out of Minneapolis available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
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