Why it is dangerous for dogs
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. A dog's body breaks these substances down very slowly, so they act on the heart and nervous system for a long time: the dog can become restless, its heart can race, and muscle tremors or seizures can follow. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it holds, and cocoa powder is especially high in it.
The amount that causes harm depends on the type of chocolate and on the dog, and it cannot be judged at home. Signs may only begin several hours later.
If your dog ate chocolate, contact a vet or an emergency clinic straight away, even if your dog seems well. Tell them what was eaten and when, and take the packaging with you.
What to watch out for
- Vomiting, diarrhoea and strong thirst can follow.
- The dog can become restless, its heart can race and it can need to urinate more.
- Muscle tremors and seizures can develop, and in severe cases the dog can collapse.
- The fat and sugar in chocolate can irritate the pancreas and the gut.
- Chocolate sweets, cakes, biscuits, cocoa drinks and cocoa shell mulch used in gardens are dangerous too.
Different parts
Not every part of this food is equally safe.
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Cocoa and dark chocolate
DangerousThey are especially high in theobromine, so even a small piece is dangerous.
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Milk chocolate
DangerousIt holds less theobromine but is still dangerous, especially for a small dog.
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White chocolate
Not safeIt holds very little theobromine but a lot of fat and sugar, so it must not be given to dogs.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Apples Yes, apples are fine for dogs: give small pieces without the core and seeds, as an occasional treat. Safe
- Blueberries Yes, blueberries and bilberries are fine for dogs: give a few washed, unsweetened berries as an occasional treat. Safe
- Carrots Yes, carrots are fine for dogs: raw or cooked, unseasoned and cut into pieces, they make a crunchy, low-calorie treat. Safe
- Strawberries Yes, strawberries are fine for dogs: wash the berry, remove the leaves, cut it up and give it as an occasional treat. Safe