How Much Chocolate Does It Take to Hurt a Dog: The Facts You Need To Know

When you think about how much chocolate can hurt a dog, it is not as simple of an answer as you might think. There are many factors to consider when figuring how much chocolate a dog can consume before showing any symptoms of illness.

We will explore how these factors affect how much chocolate a dog can eat and their consequences in this blog post!

How Much Chocolate Does It Take to Hurt a Dog

One thing to keep in mind when thinking about how much chocolate a dog can eat is that it all depends on the size of your dog.

Generally, smaller dogs are more susceptible to chocolate poisoning than larger breeds of dogs because they have a lower tolerance for theobromine, which is the chemical responsible for most of chocolate’s adverse effects.

Small dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Chihuahuas are most likely to be affected by chocolate. However, larger breeds are not out of the woods when it comes to being poisoned by too much chocolate ingestion.

The amount of chocolate that it takes to hurt your dog is also very variable, but generally speaking, you should keep chocolate out of the reach of your dog.

Sometimes they eat one or two pieces and then become sick. Other times it takes many more before symptoms appear. This is because of how chocolate affects your dog’s body.

Dogs are very sensitive to the effects of any type of chocolate. When they eat even 0.3 ounces per pound, their bodies can become poisoned and develop symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting blood after eating dark chocolates with high percentages (over 60% cocoa).In fact, some sources say that the darker and more bitter it tastes, the worse effects will likely manifest themselves in them.

It is important to remember that chocolate is not the only thing in your house capable of harming them. Other foods like macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes, and Xylitol are also dangerous for them to eat.

Eating the right amount of chocolate can vary greatly depending on the type and the amount of chocolate they eat.

However, even if you accidentally give your dog too much chocolate, it is not the end for them. If they eat a small amount of chocolate, they might experience symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting. If they eat a larger amount of chocolate, more severe symptoms can develop.

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms after eating too much chocolate, it is essential to take them to the vet right away. The sooner you go, the better their chances are of making a full recovery!

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning?

If a dog eats chocolate, they could experience many different symptoms and signs of chocolate poisoning. The amount of dark or milk-based types depends on the animal and if it was just one small bite that triggered their illness, to begin with! Common clinical signs include:

Vomiting and diarrhea

A dog might become nauseous and vomit after eating chocolate. Sometimes, they can also have bouts of stomach pains which send them to the bathroom. This is because the cocoa binds to their stomach acid, and this can cause diarrhea.

Fever and shivering

It’s common for a dog to get chills when something isn’t right with their body. They might feel feverish and shiver, which can signify that they are experiencing chocolate poisoning symptoms.

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

A dog’s heartbeat increases if they have eaten chocolate bar because of the rapid consumption of energy reserves. Their irregular heartbeat can race between 40-180 beats per minute, and they will experience rapid breathing depending on how much cocoa or theobromine content they have consumed.

Increased thirst and urination

Even if they drank water before their stomach pains started, your dog could be experiencing the opposite after eating chocolate . They might feel like they are constantly thirsty and keep drinking any water they can find.

Increased blood sugar levels

If a dog has strong chocolate poisoning symptoms, it might also be due to increased blood sugar levels. This is because the cocoa directly affects them and can cause a spike, leading to coma.

Weakness and fatigue

If a dog has eaten chocolate, they might experience symptoms of fatigue and weakness. It can be difficult for them to walk or even stand up during this time period.

Seizures and tremors

When a dog consumes too much caffeine in one sitting, they could end up having seizures as the result of their illness. The same goes for eating dark chocolates; if there is enough cocoa in their system, they might start to have seizures and tremors.

Difficulty breathing and blue-tinged gums

An animal’s respiratory system might start to fail them if they have consumed chocolate. Their gums might appear bluish because of respiratory failure and the lack of oxygen in their system, which is one of the severe signs that needs a medical advice right away.

Death

If the chocolate ingestion is left untreated, then a dog could end up dying from its illness. Death can occur if a dog eats too much chocolate! This is because the fat-soluble compound of cocoa binds with red blood cells and starts to damage them. The result? Hyperkalemia which causes cardiac arrest. It’s common for dogs affected by chocolate poisoning to die within twelve hours of eating it.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, contact a veterinarian immediately to get the proper treatment!

Why Chocolate Is Toxic to Dogs

Chocolate contains a certain chemical that is poisonous to dogs. The percentage of chocolate in the human diet is not harmful, but it’s enough to harm a dog. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Milk chocolate isn’t as poisonous as dark or even semi-sweet chocolate chips.

The lethal dose of chocolate for dogs is 200mg per kilogram. That means that a 20-pound dog could die from eating about 12 ounces of milk chocolate.

A ten-pound dog can die after eating about six ounces of milk chocolate. When it comes to dark or semi-sweet chocolate, a 20-pound dog can die after eating two ounces. A ten-pound dog could eat an ounce of dark chocolate, and it would be enough to kill it.

The chemical in chocolate responsible for all that is called theobromine that is diuretic and a heart stimulant.

1.Dark chocolate bars and unsweetened baking chocolate products contain higher levels of theobromine.

2.Bakers chocolate contains 44% theobromine, unsweetened baking chocolate contains 150% theobromine dose.

3.The amount of cocoa powder a recipe contains can vary. Cocoa powder is unsweetened chocolate, ground very finely. Most recipes call for cooking it with water, but it can be eaten raw.

4.Semi-sweet chocolate chips are sweeter than unsweetened baking chocolate.

5.Milk chocolate has the least amount of theobromine.

6.The darker and more bitter chocolate is, the higher percentage of cocoa products it has, which means the more dangerous it is and even a small amount consumed can cause poisoning in dogs.

Types of Chocolate That Can Kill a Dog

Dark chocolate

Dogs are more susceptible to the effects of caffeine than humans, so they should never be fed dark chocolate. One ounce per pound bodyweight would make your dog poisoned if ingested by itself!

Plus, you have to keep in mind that darker chocolates contain higher levels of catechins – an antioxidant found abundantly throughout plants, including green tea leaves and cocoa beans- and a lower amount of sugar, which provides energy for pets’ bodies.

Cocoa powder and baking chocolate

If your dog eats a large amount of cocoa powder or baking chocolate, they will likely experience similar symptoms of chocolate toxicity as they would if it had eaten dark chocolate.

The effects are the same but less severe because cocoa powder and baking chocolate have a lower amount of caffeine. For example, for a 20-pound dog, only 0.4 ounces of baking chocolate is needed to cause poisoning symptoms – that’s roughly the same amount you would get if you added all the chocolate chips to your brownie recipe!

15 ounces per pound or 7.5 ounces per kilogram of body weight in the case of baking chocolate is enough to be lethal.

Sugar-free candy and gum

As of now, there is not enough research on whether or not sugar-free candy and gum can hurt your dog as much as the other  chocolate types. So, the safest thing to do is not give your dog any candy or gum.

Milk chocolate and white chocolate

These kinds of chocolates items are the safest to give your pets. Milk chocolate and white chocolate have very low levels of caffeine, so if they do eat any of them, they will most likely be fine.

But if your dog consumes it in excessive amounts that reach up to 0.45 ounces per pound of your dog’s body weight, it can be hazardous and cause them to be sick. So this means that even 1 ounce per pound of milk chocolate can be lethal.

Semi-sweet baking chips

Semi-sweet baking chips are made with chocolate liquor, which is just another name for cocoa powder. Because of this, they have the same effects as cocoa powder and baking chocolate. 1 ounce per pound of your canine’s body weight is enough to cause some serious damage, so keep them away from your pet reach.

Chocolate syrup

The chocolate syrup contains a very low amount of caffeine. So, if your dog eats any chocolate syrup, it will most likely be fine. But you should always keep in mind that chocolate syrup is high in sugar, so it may cause your dog to become hyperactive and have diarrhea.

Sugar-free Chocolates

Sugar-free chocolates are made with maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol. This means that it does not contain any caffeine or sugar. As of now, there is no research on whether or not maltitol can hurt your dog, so the safest thing to do would be not to give your dog any.

Candy containing Xylitol

If your dog eats candy that contains Xylitol, it can cause them to become severely hypoglycemic and experience seizures. So, the safest thing to do would be not to give your dog any candy that contains the sweetener Xylitol.

Caffeine pills

Caffeine is very harmful to dogs, so if your dog eats caffeine, it can cause them to have seizures. So, do not give your dog any caffeine pills.

Coffee, tea, and soda

All kinds of coffee, tea, and soda contain caffeine. Caffeine is very harmful to dogs, so if your dog eats any type of coffee, tea, or soda, it can cause them to have seizures. So the safest thing would be not to give your dog any coffee, tea, or soda.

How to stop my dog from eating chocolate?

One way of stopping your dog from eating chocolate is to keep all candy, chocolate chip cookie, chocolate boxes, and other types of toxic food containing caffeine out of reach.

1.If you are giving your dog chocolate, only give them the smallest amount. And remember to keep an eye on their behavior so that if they have any symptoms of chocolate poisoning, you can get them to a veterinarian immediately.

2.If the worst happens and your dog eats too much chocolate, take it to a veterinarian immediately. If it hasn’t eaten any yet and is just in the process of eating it, stop them immediately and take the chocolate away.

3.Be prepared for the vet visit by bringing all ingredients or labels of what they have eaten so that you can find out what type of poison they may have been exposed to.

4.In case your dog does ingest chocolate, the vet will most likely induce vomiting and give you charcoal to help absorb any of the poison in your dog’s stomach. Then, they might provide them with an IV for a couple of hours so that they can get their blood sugar levels back to normal.

5.After your dog has been treated by the vet, you should keep an eye on them for the next 24 hours so that you can prevent any symptoms from showing up. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include hyperactivity, diarrhea, and seizures.

6.If your dog has ingested little or no chocolate, then give them hydrogen peroxide to make them vomit. You should take it for medical care because the poisoning can’t always be diagnosed quickly. Treatment will vary depending on what symptoms show up at different times in dogs who have eaten too many chocolates.

7.Do not give your dog any kind of chocolate or anything made with chocolate, no matter what the type is. If you do not know if something is made with chocolate or contains caffeine, then it would be best to keep them away from your pet just in case.

FAQs

How long does it take for chocolate to affect a dog?

If a dog ingests a large amount of chocolate at one time, the result may be vomiting or diarrhea within a few hours. If a dog eats a smaller amount of chocolate, it may take 12 to 24 hours for symptoms to appear.

Most dogs have eaten chocolate at some time in their lives without any lasting effects. However, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the greater the risk. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose a greater risk than milk chocolate.

Do dogs have to eat a large amount of chocolate to be affected?

No. Even eating a small amount of chocolate can cause problems for dogs because they metabolize (process) the chemical found in chocolate, called theobromine, differently than people. Chocolate poisoning is more likely if the dog has a smaller body mass.

Adverse effects in dogs can occur after ingesting 0.1% of its body mass (10 kg dog would experience problems if fed 10 gm chocolate) for milk chocolate, 0.3% for dark chocolate, and 0.5% for bakers’ chocolate.

Will my dog be OK after eating chocolate?

If you are sure your canine companion has not eaten a large amount of an average chocolate bar, you can monitor it at home. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea, and take your dog to see your veterinarian if symptoms are severe or persist.

If the dog has eaten chocolate, in excess amount you should call your vet for advice or Pet Poison Helpline for assistance.

How do I know if my dog has chocolate poisoning?

If your dog has eaten chocolate, you may see signs within six to twelve hours. These include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, restlessness followed by depression, and an inability to get up and walk.

You may see elevated heart rate and body temperature, increased panting, dehydration, tremors, seizures, and coma as time progresses.

In some cases, a dog may have eaten enough chocolate that you cannot determine if it has been affected or not. In these cases, veterinary attention is always recommended.

How long does it take for a dog to absorb chocolate?

A dog’s digestive system can remove some of the excess chemicals found in chocolate before they can absorb into the body. The rate of absorption is increased with higher temperatures.

It is estimated that a dog exposed to normal room temperature may absorb 20% of the chemicals found in chocolate within two hours and reduce the toxicity of chocolate. But if the same dog was exposed to higher temperatures, its absorption rate may be increased up to 50%.

What happens if a dog eats a little bit of chocolate?

If a dog eats a small amounts of chocolate, it may have an upset stomach or become hyperactive. If a large amount is consumed, the dog may experience seizures, rapid heart rates leading to heart attacks, internal bleeding, and other serious problems. The severity of the problem depends on the type, quality, and quantity of chocolate eaten.

Is milk chocolate bad for dogs?

Milk chocolate has a higher concentration of fat and sugar than cocoa, so it is less likely to cause problems. Dark chocolate, and especially baker’s chocolate, can cause problems.

What other foods are bad for dogs?

Besides different components of chocolate, other foods that should be avoided include onions, garlic, fruit pits and stems, macadamia nuts, nutmeg, grapes and raisins, alcohol, milk, and yeast dough.

What happens if dogs eat brownies?

If dogs eat brownies, it causes them to become hyperactive because of the fat and sugar in the brownies. Dogs may vomit or have diarrhea. The effects wear off in a few hours.

Can a little bit of chocolate kill a dog?

Some chocolate is poisonous for dogs, even if they’ve ingested a small amount. To determine if a large amount of chocolate can be toxic, it’s important to know the type, quality, and quantity of chocolate eaten.

Will a lick of chocolate kill a dog?

A lick of chocolate is unlikely to cause problems, even for dogs who are especially sensitive to chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to dogs if they ingest a large amount of it. The severity depends on the type, quality, and quantity of chocolate items eaten.

Are oysters toxic to dogs?

No. Oysters are not toxic to dogs but may cause an upset stomach if your dog eats too many of them.

Can dogs eat cake?

Yes, but it depends on the ingredients. The cake is not toxic to dogs, but some of its ingredients may be. If the cake contains a component of chocolate, this is toxic to dogs and may cause an emergency situation.

How much chocolate can a dog eat without it hurting them?

The type of chocolate can have a considerable effect on your dog’s health. If it contains high levels or low amounts of fat, the different types may not be too harmful to them but still monitor their intake and contact a veterinarian if necessary.

Is cotton candy bad for dogs?

It can be, depending on the ingredients. Most cotton candy is not toxic to dogs, but some types of cotton candy may have chocolate powder or sugar that can upset your dog’s stomach.

Is butter harmful to dogs?

No. butter doesn’t have a potential toxic level to dogs, but it may cause an upset stomach if your dog eats too much of it.

How much onion is toxic to dogs?

A dog would have to eat a large number of onions before it became toxic.  If eaten in large quantities, onions may cause anemia and a decrease of red blood cells in dogs, making them tired and weak.

Conclusion

Keeping your dog away from chocolate can be a tricky thing to do. But, if you know how much it will affect them and what kind of symptoms to look out for, it will be a lot easier. In the end, now that you know how much chocolate does it take to hurt a dog it is always best to keep your dog away from chocolate altogether. It can cause them a lot of harm, and you never know when they will eat it.