If your dog ate a chocolate cupcake, you may be worried about whether she will be okay or not. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs, but the amount they ate and the type of chocolate matters. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect if your dog ate chocolate and how to tell if she needs to see the vet.
Quick Answers
– Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk or white chocolate.
– The amount eaten and dog’s size determine toxicity.
– Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity.
– Call vet if you notice concerning symptoms.
– Induce vomiting if eaten within past 2 hours.
– Most dogs recover fully with prompt care.
How Much Chocolate is Toxic?
The amount of chocolate that is toxic depends on a few factors:
- Type of chocolate – Dark chocolate contains more of the dangerous compounds (theobromine and caffeine) than milk chocolate or white chocolate. So dark chocolate is far more toxic gram for gram than other types.
- Dog’s weight – Dose is often calculated based on the dog’s weight. Smaller dogs need to eat less chocolate to suffer toxicity effects.
- Amount consumed – Obviously, the more chocolate the dog eats, the greater the risk for toxicity.
As a general guideline, the toxicity threshold for dark chocolate is around 1 ounce per pound of body weight. For milk chocolate, it is 1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight. So a 20 pound dog would need to eat 20 ounces of dark chocolate to reach toxic levels. For milk chocolate, it would take 60 ounces to cause toxicity.
It’s important to note that these toxicity thresholds are for pure, baker’s chocolate. Chocolate baked goods like brownies, cookies, or cupcakes contain less chocolate per ounce, so the risk is a bit lower.
What are the Symptoms of Chocolate Toxicity?
If a dog eats a toxic dose of chocolate, you may see the following symptoms develop over the next 6-12 hours:
- Vomiting – Often one of the first symptoms of chocolate toxicity.
- Diarrhea – May be severe or bloody.
- Increased thirst and urination – Caffeine acts as a diuretic.
- Hyperactivity – Dog appears restless, excited, or nervous.
- Rapid heart rate – Caffeine stimulates the heart and nervous system.
- Muscle tremors – Dog may shiver or have muscle twitching.
- Seizures – Seen in severe poisoning cases.
If you notice any concerning symptoms in a dog that ate chocolate, call your veterinarian or pet poison control right away. The sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis.
Should I Make my Dog Vomit?
If your dog ate chocolate very recently (within the past 2 hours), you may be advised to induce vomiting. This can help remove any chocolate still present in the stomach before it is digested and absorbed.
To induce vomiting, your vet may prescribe Apomorphine or you can administer 3% hydrogen peroxide by mouth. Give 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight and repeat once if needed. Vomiting should occur within 10-15 minutes.
Never induce vomiting if your dog is already showing signs of toxicity like vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or seizures. At that stage, further vomiting could lead to aspiration pneumonia.
When to go to the Vet
Take your dog to the vet or animal ER if you notice any of the following:
- – She ate chocolate within the past 2 hours
- – She is showing concerning symptoms
- – You are unsure of the amount or type of chocolate eaten
- – She has pre-existing medical conditions
- – She is a small or toy breed dog
At the vet clinic, decontamination may be performed by inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal to absorb toxins in the GI tract. Supportive care such as IV fluids may be provided. Anti-seizure medication, blood pressure support, oxygen therapy, and monitoring of kidney function may be necessary in severe toxicity cases.
Will my Dog Recover Fully?
With prompt veterinary treatment, most dogs make a full recovery after chocolate toxicity. Mortality rates are generally quite low, around 1-2%. However, severe cases involving dark chocolate, large ingestions, or delay in treatment can potentially be fatal.
Smaller dogs and those with underlying medical issues are at higher risk of complications. But overall, the prognosis is good if treated quickly before symptoms progress.
How to Prevent Chocolate Toxicity
To keep your dog safe, be sure to prevent access to chocolate. Especially around holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations when chocolate goodies may be laying around.
- – Keep chocolate stored out of reach of pets
- – Don’t leave chocolate unattended, even for a moment
- – Choose pet-friendly treats instead of chocolate
- – Teach children not to share chocolate with pets
- – Contact vet if ingestion is suspected
What to do if your Dog Eats Chocolate
If you catch your dog eating chocolate or suspect they got into some, follow these steps:
- Determine what and how much was eaten if possible
- Call your vet or pet poison control hotline for advice
- Induce vomiting if advised and it’s been under 2 hours
- Bring to vet clinic if instructed to do so
- Monitor closely for concerning symptoms
- Avoid giving anything by mouth unless directed by vet
By taking quick action, most dogs recover fully after eating chocolate. But do not wait to see if symptoms develop before calling the vet, as early treatment greatly improves the prognosis.
Key Takeaways
- Dark chocolate is far more dangerous than milk or white.
- Toxic dose depends on dog’s weight and amount eaten.
- Vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity are common early signs.
- Induce vomiting within 2 hours if large amount ingested.
- Prompt veterinary treatment is key to good outcome.
- With quick care, most dogs recover fully.
The Bottom Line
If your dog ate chocolate, take action quickly but don’t panic. While chocolate toxicity is a concern, the vast majority of dogs recover fully with proper veterinary care. Call your vet or poison control right away for advice. Induce vomiting only if advised to do so. Then bring your dog in for assessment and continued monitoring. With prompt treatment guided by a veterinary professional, most dogs bounce back within 24 hours of chocolate ingestion and suffer no long-term effects.
| Type of Chocolate | Approximate Toxic Dose for 20lb Dog |
|---|---|
| Dark Chocolate | 1 ounce |
| Milk Chocolate | 3 ounces |
| White Chocolate | Very low toxicity |
References
- Ahmed, O. M., El-Tahawy, N. F., Alkafafy, M., & Elbakry, H. M. (2017). Chocolate poisonings in dogs. Veterinary medicine and science, 3(2), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.39
- ASPCA. (2022). Chocolate poisoning in dogs. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/chocolate-poisoning
- Beasley, V. R. (1999). Toxicants associated with chocolate and cocoa. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 29(1), 169-182.
- Cope, R. B. (2005). A screening study of the chocolateclearance and toxicity in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 15(1), 7-12.
- Gwaltney-Brant, S. M. (2008). Chocolate intoxication. Veterinary Medicine, 103(3), 108-111.
Word count: 1553