My dog ate chocolate
If your dog ate chocolate, three facts matter: how much he weighs, what kind of chocolate, and how many ounces. In a 5-pound Chihuahua, an amount that does nothing to a Labrador can be an emergency. The calculator tells you which level he's at.
If it just happened: call your vet, an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center now, before you read on. Much more can be done in the first two hours. Keep the wrapper.
Risk level
Merck Veterinary Manual thresholdsFor guidance only. Real theobromine content varies by brand and every dog reacts differently. This calculator doesn't replace a call to your vet: when in doubt, call.
How much chocolate is dangerous for a Chihuahua?
Ounces at which the first symptoms can appear (20 mg per kg). For seizures, multiply by three. A regular Hershey's bar is 1.55 ounces; a Kiss is 0.16.
| Type of chocolate | 4 lb dog | 5 lb dog | 6 lb dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk chocolate | 0.56 oz | 0.7 oz | 0.83 oz |
| Dark or semisweet | 0.23 oz | 0.29 oz | 0.35 oz |
| Dark 70-85% | 0.15 oz | 0.18 oz | 0.22 oz |
| Unsweetened baking | 0.08 oz | 0.1 oz | 0.12 oz |
| Cocoa powder | 0.05 oz | 0.06 oz | 0.07 oz |
| White | No theobromine risk in real-world amounts; pancreatitis risk from fat | ||
Calculated from methylxanthine content by chocolate type and the thresholds published in the Merck Veterinary Manual.
What do I do if my dog ate chocolate?
- Take away what's left and keep the wrapper: it lists the cacao percentage and the ounces.
- Write down three things: the dog's weight, the type and amount of chocolate, and what time it happened.
- Call your vet, an emergency clinic or ASPCA Poison Control with that information.
- Don't induce vomiting on your own. No hydrogen peroxide, no salt: in a 5-pound dog they can do more harm than the chocolate unless a professional gives you the dose.
- Don't wait for symptoms. They take 6 to 12 hours, and by then the theobromine has been absorbed.
- If you're told to monitor at home: water available, no exercise, and checks for 24 hours.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs
They appear 6 to 12 hours later and can last up to three days, because dogs take a long time to clear theobromine.
| Dose | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 mg/kg | Nothing, or mild stomach upset | Call and watch for 24 hours |
| 20 to 40 mg/kg | Vomiting, diarrhea, heavy thirst, restlessness, panting | Vet today |
| 40 to 60 mg/kg | Racing heart, arrhythmias, tremors, hyperactivity | Emergency |
| Over 60 mg/kg | Seizures, rigidity, collapse | Emergency, now |
Why is chocolate toxic to dogs?
Because of two substances in cacao, theobromine and caffeine, which a person clears in a few hours and a dog in nearly a full day. In the meantime they stimulate the heart and nervous system. The more cacao in the chocolate, the more theobromine: that's why cocoa powder is twelve times more dangerous than milk chocolate.
And the dose goes by body weight. The same candy bar that gives a 65-pound dog, at worst, diarrhea puts a 5-pound Chihuahua in arrhythmia range. It's the reason "a little bit won't hurt" doesn't exist in this breed.
The times of year with the most cases are Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Prevention is boring and it works: chocolate up high, in a closed cupboard, never on coffee tables or in backpacks on the floor. At our house, with Romeo and Lorenzo, the chocolate lives on the top shelf and the backpacks hang on hooks.
Frequently asked questions
How much chocolate is toxic to a Chihuahua?
My dog ate chocolate but seems fine. What should I do?
How long does it take for symptoms to appear?
Can I make my dog throw up at home?
Is white chocolate dangerous for dogs?
What if he ate a chocolate chip cookie or a brownie?
What about other foods?
What a Chihuahua should and shouldn't eat, and the fruit question everyone asks.