Chocolate Toxicity

Although chocolate is a tasty treat for us, it can be quite dangerous for our pets. You should avoid giving your pet chocolate and ensure that it is kept out of their reach to help prevent accidental ingestion as dogs love the taste as much as us!

Chocolate contains the chemicals theobromine and caffeine, which in toxic levels in dogs can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, elevated heart rate, tremors, seizures and death. Dark chocolate especially contains high levels of theobromine and is more dangerous than milk chocolate.

There is a short window of opportunity to induce vomiting in dogs who have ingested chocolate (between 1-3 hours) so if you are uncertain, it is safest to obtain veterinary advice and have your dog assessed if necessary.

Clicking on the image to the right will take you to a chocolate toxicity calculator to help determine if a toxic amount has been eaten. This is a guide only, not a diagnostic tool. If you are concerned your pet has ingested cholate of any form, please seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.