Has your dog eaten chocolate?
If your dog is shaking, very restless, collapsing or having a fit, call your vet or an out-of-hours vet now. Don’t wait to use this checker.
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theobromine and caffeine per kg of your dog’s weight
Not sure how much was eaten? Enter the most it could have been. Check the wrapper for the weight.
What to do now
- Keep the wrapper and note the time, the type of chocolate and roughly how much is missing.
- Phone your vet, or an out-of-hours vet if they’re closed. Even if your dog seems fine, early treatment is quicker, cheaper and safer.
- Animal PoisonLine is a 24-hour service run by vets and poisons specialists: 01202 509000. There is a charge per call.
- Don’t try to make your dog sick at home. Salt water and other home remedies can be dangerous. Your vet can do it safely if it’s needed.
- Watch for signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, drinking a lot, restlessness, a racing heart, trembling or fits. They usually start within a few hours but can take up to 12.
Chocolate guide: why it’s dangerous for dogs
Why chocolate is poisonous
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. People break these down quickly, but dogs take many hours, so they build up and affect the heart, nervous system and gut.
Darker is more dangerous
Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous, then dark chocolate, then milk chocolate. White chocolate contains very little theobromine, but it’s fatty and sugary and can still upset a dog’s stomach.
Size matters
The same bar is far more dangerous for a small dog than a large one, which is why this checker works it out per kilogram of your dog’s weight.
Other dangerous ingredients
Raisins, sultanas and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts. Sugar-free sweets and some peanut butters contain xylitol, which can be life-threatening. Macadamia nuts can cause weakness and trembling. If any of these were eaten, call your vet straight away.
Christmas and Easter
Selection boxes, advent calendars, chocolate tree decorations and presents under the tree are the usual culprits. Keep them out of reach, and remember that a wrapped present can still be sniffed out.
The figures used
Chocolate strengths are typical values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Vets generally see mild signs from about 20 mg per kg, serious heart effects from about 40 to 50 mg per kg, and fits from about 60 mg per kg, according to Washington State University’s veterinary hospital. This checker errs on the side of caution, but it is not a substitute for a vet.
This checker gives a guide only. If you’re worried, always phone your vet.