That is, if the loved ones are your pets. Even small amounts of theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets.
Larger doses can be fatal.
While most pet owners expect a dog to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate, few realize its toxic potential. The lethal dose of theobromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has six to nine times as much of the substance as milk chocolate does. Cats have much different eating habits and seldom are poisoned by chocolate. While a very small amount of chocolate may not harm some dogs, it's safest to avoid giving it to them at all.