What will eating chocolate do to a dog

Chocolate toxicity is a common problem seen in dogs, and it often stems from accidental ingestion. While chocolate is toxic to dogs, the level of toxicity depends on the type of chocolate, how much they ate and how big the dog is. Let's take a closer look at what happens if a dog eats chocolate and what you should do.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and to a lesser extent, caffeine. Humans metabolize theobromine easily, but dogs don't. Dogs process theobromine and caffeine slowly, which allows these toxic compounds to build up in their systems and cause clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity.

But when it comes to toxicity, not all chocolate is the same. What happens if a dog eats chocolate is different based on the type of chocolate they consumed.

Baker's chocolate and cocoa, for example, are considered to be the most toxic, then dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. Chocolate toxicity is so common in dogs that the Merck Veterinary Manual offers a chocolate toxicity meter that you can use to determine if your dog has consumed a toxic amount of chocolate.

If you have a medium or large dog who consumes only a small amount of chocolate, then you may only notice signs associated with an upset stomach, such as vomiting or diarrhea. But if your dog consumes a large amount of chocolate or if you have a small dog who consumes chocolate, then they may develop the following signs of chocolate toxicity:. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate or you see them eating chocolate, don't wait to see if they develop any signs of toxicity.

Call your veterinarian immediately. The sooner a dog is treated, the higher likelihood they'll recover without incident. If your vet isn't available, call the local emergency veterinary clinic or the pet poison hotline. These professionals will walk you through what to do. It's helpful to keep or take a picture of the packaging to give to the vet, and let them know when you think your dog was eating chocolate.

Treatment often differs depending on how long the chocolate has been in the dog's body. First, the chocolate needs to be removed from your dog's system. If the chocolate has been consumed within the last hour, your vet may be able to induce vomiting to get the chocolate out of their system and avoid a hospital stay.

This is another reason not to wait on calling your veterinarian after your dog has eaten chocolate. Keep in mind that you should never try to induce your dog to vomit at home without a vet's supervision. If it's been more than a few hours or you don't know when the chocolate was consumed, your vet may need to try and help clear the toxic byproducts of the chocolate in your dog's system by administering activated charcoal or giving them intravenous fluids through a catheter.

If your dog isn't showing signs of chocolate toxicity, this may be all the treatment they need. What happens if a dog eats chocolate and gets sick? Treatment depends on the dog's clinical signs. They'll likely need to be hospitalized to receive support in the form of intravenous fluid therapy, anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medications, anti-seizure medications, etc. Severe chocolate toxicity can be fatal, so any dog experiencing the effects of chocolate poisoning will need to be continually monitored by veterinary personnel.

Again, the amount of chocolate your dog eats should ideally be zero. If somehow, your dog does manage to eat chocolate, a small amount like a bite of your cookie may not be dangerous or fatal.

It all depends on the following factors:. Dark chocolate, cocoa and baking chocolate contain the highest levels of theobromine , the substance which is toxic to dogs.

So even just a small amount of these chocolates could seriously poison your dog. White chocolate and milk chocolate, meanwhile, contain a smaller amount of theobromine and therefore may be less toxic. Even so, they are not safe to feed your dog under any circumstances. Less than one ounce of dark chocolate could be enough to poison a 44 pound dog, according to Hills Pet.

As we mentioned, chocolate poisoning in dogs could potentially be fatal — your favorite sweet could actually kill your dog. If your dog eats chocolate, they may suffer the following consequences:. If your dog has any of the above symptoms, you need to take immediate action to protect the life of your canine pal. Especially if they ate a large amount of chocolate, or very dark chocolate with a high theobromine content.

Your veterinarian may induce vomiting in your dog to get it out of their system, as well as give your dog activated charcoal , which can stop the intake of theobromine in the blood. Act fast — your dog should be treated for chocolate poisoning as soon as possible to ensure the best possible recovery.

More serious treatment and overnight care may be required in severe cases. Dogs, like us, are drawn to sweets and will probably want to eat anything you are eating. Keep your puppy safe by keeping chocolate goodies out of reach, and protect your furry friend! Offer toys, a stuffed Kong , a favorite blanket , and treats to help him feel like the crate is his personal den.

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Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Oct 27, 3 Minutes. Key Points. Why Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs. How to Crate Train Your Dog Are you thinking about crate training your puppy but aren't sure how to get started?