Your dog ate chocolate. What now?
Three numbers decide what happens next: the type of chocolate, your dog's weight, and how long ago. Have those ready, then call a poison line. They will calculate exposure faster and more accurately than any article — this one included.
Two numbers worth saving.
Why chocolate is actually toxic.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine — both stimulants that humans clear in a couple of hours and dogs clear over more than a day. The mismatch is what makes chocolate dangerous. The same dose that gives you a coffee buzz can push a small dog into tremors and arrhythmia.
Severity scales with theobromine content (which varies widely by type), the dose per kilogram of body weight, and whether the dog has any underlying conditions. A 4 kg Yorkie eating dark chocolate has a very different problem from a 30 kg Labrador eating the same amount of milk chocolate.
Theobromine, by chocolate.
Approximate theobromine content per ounce. Use these figures with body weight to estimate exposure — your poison line will do the same calculation more precisely.
| Type | Theobromine | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa powder | ~800 mg / oz | Highest |
| Baker's chocolate (unsweetened) | ~390 mg / oz | Very high |
| Dark chocolate | ~150-160 mg / oz | High |
| Semisweet chocolate | ~150 mg / oz | High |
| Milk chocolate | ~58 mg / oz | Moderate (depends on weight) |
| White chocolate | <1 mg / oz | Low (fat is the main risk) |
Toxic-dose thresholds: ~20 mg/kg (mild signs), ~40-60 mg/kg (serious signs), ~100-200 mg/kg (potentially fatal). Source: Merck Veterinary Manual, ASPCA APCC.
What to watch for, and when.
- First 2-4 hours
Vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, hyperactivity, increased thirst, panting. The early window is also where vet decontamination is most effective.
- 4-12 hours
Racing or irregular heart rate, tremors, stiffness, pacing. This is the peak window for serious signs in moderate-to-high exposures.
- 12-72 hours
In serious cases: seizures, dangerous arrhythmias, collapse. Theobromine has a long half-life in dogs (~17 hours). Hospitalisation often runs 24-48 hours.
- Recovery
With prompt treatment, prognosis is generally good for mild-to-moderate exposures. Severe exposures, untreated, can be fatal — particularly in small dogs.
The first hour, step by step.
These six steps in this order. Skip the second-opinion search until after the call.
- 01
Call now — do not Google for an hour
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435 (fee). Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 (fee). Or your vet directly. They will calculate exposure in under five minutes — far faster and more accurate than reading your way through search results.
- 02
Gather the facts before you call
Type of chocolate (read the label if you have it). Amount eaten (estimate is fine). Your dog's weight in kg or lbs. Time of ingestion. Any current symptoms. Have the wrapper or packaging in front of you when you call.
- 03
Do NOT make them vomit unprompted
Inducing vomiting is reasonable in some situations and dangerous in others — let the poison line decide. Hydrogen peroxide doses recommended on the internet can damage the esophagus or cause aspiration if mistimed. Wait for instruction.
- 04
Photograph what was eaten
A photo of the packaging, the remains, or the spilled chocolate helps your vet estimate dose accurately. Save the photo even if your dog seems fine — it is useful if symptoms appear hours later.
- 05
Watch for symptoms over 24-48 hours
Vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, panting, increased thirst, racing heart, muscle tremors, stiffness, seizures. Theobromine takes hours to peak in dogs. Even if the first call is "watch at home," monitor closely for at least 12 hours.
- 06
Go to a vet immediately if symptoms appear
Tremors, seizures, severe vomiting, racing or irregular heart rate, collapse, or unresponsiveness. These are emergency signs. Bring the chocolate type and weight estimate with you.
Mistakes that make it worse.
- Inducing vomiting with salt, mustard, or oil — none are safe
- Using hydrogen peroxide without a poison line's instruction
- Waiting to "see if symptoms appear" with a known toxic dose
- Assuming small breeds tolerate the same amount as large dogs
- Treating "small piece of milk chocolate" as automatically harmless in a 4 kg dog
- Not noting the time of ingestion accurately
- Throwing away the wrapper before identifying the type
Asked, answered.
How much chocolate is dangerous for a dog?
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It depends on type and weight. Mild signs (vomiting, restlessness) typically appear at around 20 mg theobromine per kg of body weight. Serious signs (tremors, racing heart, seizures) at around 40-60 mg/kg. Potentially fatal doses begin around 100-200 mg/kg. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate carry far more theobromine per ounce than milk chocolate — the type matters as much as the amount.
How much theobromine is in different chocolate types?
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Approximate per ounce (28 g): cocoa powder ~800 mg, unsweetened baker's chocolate ~390 mg, dark or semisweet ~150-160 mg, milk chocolate ~58 mg, white chocolate <1 mg. White chocolate is barely toxic — the bigger risk there is the fat. Use type and the dog's weight together when calling poison control.
My dog ate chocolate — should I make them vomit?
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Only on a vet's instruction. Do not use salt, mustard, or hydrogen peroxide unprompted. Inducing vomiting is reasonable in some cases (recent ingestion, no contraindications) but dangerous in others (esophageal damage, aspiration, certain medical conditions). Call a poison line first — they will tell you whether to induce.
How long do symptoms take to appear?
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Theobromine signs typically begin 2-4 hours after ingestion and can last 12-72 hours, because dogs metabolise theobromine slowly (half-life around 17 hours). The window for the most effective intervention — decontamination — is the first 1-2 hours, before significant absorption.
My dog ate chocolate hours ago and seems fine. Are they OK?
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Maybe, but assume not. Theobromine signs can show up at the 6-12 hour mark even when the first hours look normal. Always call a poison line with the type, amount, weight, and time. They will tell you whether the dose is below the action threshold.
My dog ate the wrapper / a piece of foil too. What now?
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Mention it to the vet or poison line. Wrappers usually pass without issue but can occasionally cause obstruction in small dogs. Watch for vomiting, refusal to eat, or straining over the next 1-3 days.
What should I tell poison control?
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Five things: type of chocolate (cocoa, dark, milk, white, etc.), amount eaten (in grams or ounces if possible — packaging helps), your dog's weight, time of ingestion, and any current symptoms. With those, they can calculate exposure and recommend whether you need to come in immediately.
Save those two poison-control numbers in your phone now — while it is calm. Rompkeeps your dog's weight, breed, age, medications, and vet contact in one place, so when something happens you already have the answers a poison line will ask for.
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- Merck Veterinary Manual. Methylxanthine (chocolate, caffeine) toxicosis in dogs. merckvetmanual.com.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Chocolate toxicity guidance and 24/7 hotline (888-426-4435). aspca.org.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Chocolate poisoning in dogs. petpoisonhelpline.com.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Chocolate poisoning in dogs. vcahospitals.com.
- American Kennel Club. Dogs and chocolate: what to do. akc.org.
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Toxicology resources. vet.cornell.edu.