Chocolate and Dogs: What You Actually Need to Know

Chocolate is one of those hazards that most dog owners know about in a general way but don't fully understand until something happens. The short version: keep it away from your dog, all of it, always. The longer version is worth knowing too.

Why chocolate is toxic

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound dogs can't metabolize the way humans do. It builds up in their system and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, and in serious cases, death. Caffeine in chocolate adds to the problem.

Not all chocolate is equally dangerous

This is the part that matters most practically. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine concentration and the more dangerous it is.

Baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the most serious risks. A relatively small amount can make a medium-sized dog very sick. Milk chocolate is less concentrated but still dangerous in any real quantity. White chocolate contains very little theobromine but isn't entirely off the hook either.

If you want to know whether a specific amount is dangerous for your dog's weight, the ASPCA has a free online toxicity calculator at aspca.org that's worth bookmarking.

If your dog ate chocolate

Don't wait to see if symptoms develop. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 right away and tell them what kind of chocolate, roughly how much, and your dog's weight. They'll tell you exactly what to do next.

Easy to forget: chocolate shows up in unexpected places

Easter eggs and holiday candy are obvious. A little less obvious: cocoa bean mulch, which has become popular in some gardens and is toxic if a dog eats it. Worth knowing before you or a neighbor spreads it in the yard.

The rule is simple. Chocolate lives somewhere your dog can't get to it. That includes counters, because dogs are more resourceful than most people give them credit for.