Sweets & snacks
Can dogs eat chocolate?
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs clear very slowly. Darker chocolate is far more dangerous: a few squares of baking chocolate can poison a small dog.
Why Theobromine and caffeine
If your dog ate some
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
- Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
- Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
- Use our chocolate calculator to see how serious the amount is while you call.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Restlessness, panting and excitement
- Drinking and urinating more
- Racing or irregular heartbeat
- Tremors or seizures at high doses
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs clear very slowly. Darker chocolate is far more dangerous: a few squares of baking chocolate can poison a small dog.
Cats Toxic
No. Cats are just as sensitive to theobromine as dogs; they simply eat chocolate less often because they cannot taste sweetness.
Can cats eat chocolate?The details
How much chocolate is dangerous depends on three things: the kind of chocolate, how much was eaten and how much your pet weighs. White chocolate contains almost no theobromine; milk chocolate about 2 mg per gram; dark chocolate around 5–6 mg per gram; unsweetened baking chocolate and cocoa powder much more.
Signs usually start within 6 to 12 hours and can last for days, because theobromine is recycled in the body. Vets may make your dog vomit, give activated charcoal and keep them on a drip.
Safer treats your dog can have instead
Apples
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Beef
Bell peppers
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Blackberries
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Questions owners ask
Can dogs eat chocolate?
No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs clear very slowly. Darker chocolate is far more dangerous: a few squares of baking chocolate can poison a small dog.
What makes chocolate risky for dogs?
Theobromine and caffeine.
What are the signs to watch for in dogs?
vomiting and diarrhoea, restlessness, panting and excitement, drinking and urinating more, racing or irregular heartbeat, tremors or seizures at high doses.
What should I do if my dog ate chocolate?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to. Use our chocolate calculator to see how serious the amount is while you call.
Is chocolate safe for cats too?
No. Cats are just as sensitive to theobromine as dogs; they simply eat chocolate less often because they cannot taste sweetness.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
