Enter your dog's weight, the type of chocolate they got into, and the amount consumed to get an immediate toxicity assessment — including their theobromine dose, caffeine dose, and overall risk level so you know whether it's a "wait and watch" situation or a "call the vet right now" one.
Toxicity Assessment
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Theobromine Dose
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Caffeine Dose
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Risk Level
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Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 855-764-7661. Early treatment is always cheaper and more effective than waiting for symptoms to develop.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs metabolize much slower than humans. These compounds can cause vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Humans can metabolize theobromine and caffeine much more efficiently than dogs. What would be a lethal dose for a dog is easily processed by human metabolism without harmful effects.
Baker's chocolate and cocoa powder are most toxic, containing 130-450mg of theobromine per ounce. Dark chocolate is also dangerous. Milk chocolate is less toxic but still harmful in large amounts.
Early symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, and restlessness. Advanced symptoms include rapid breathing, increased heart rate, muscle rigidity, seizures, and potentially cardiac failure.
Symptoms typically appear within 6-12 hours after consumption. However, theobromine can remain in a dog's system for up to 20 hours, so effects may be prolonged.
It depends on the dog's size and chocolate type. As little as 1 ounce of baker's chocolate can be toxic to a 10-pound dog. Always consult a veterinarian regardless of the amount consumed.
White chocolate contains very little theobromine and is generally not toxic. However, it's high in fat and sugar, which can still cause stomach upset and pancreatitis in dogs.