Adult dog food Take care of your adult dog Cohabitation Behaviour Practical advice health and wellbeing REGISTER YOUR DOG TODAY Receive useful tips for your health Is chocolate toxic to dogs? Is it true ? Is chocolate toxic to dogs? The answer is yes. The toxicity however depends on the type of chocolate, the size of your dog, and the amount ingested. The component that is harmful to dogs in chocolate is called theobromine. Humans can easily metabolize theobromine, but dogs cannot easily metabolize them, which can quickly suffer from a toxic build-up in their system. Size matters A large dog can ingest larger amounts of chocolate without adverse effects than a small dog. Note that the theobromine level varies depending on the type of chocolate. Cocoa, baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain the most, while milk chocolate and white chocolate contain the least. A small amount of chocolate will certainly irritate your dog's stomach. He may also be sick or have diarrhea. However, larger amounts will have serious adverse effects. In high enough amounts, theobromine can cause muscle tremors, seizures, irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding, and even a heart attack. Signs to watch out for The onset of theobromine poisoning is usually marked by marked hyperactivity. Don't worry if your dog has eaten a little chocolate or the last square of your bar. This does not constitute a sufficient quantity of theobromine which can be a source of intoxication. On the other hand, if your dog is small and has eaten a whole box of chocolates, have him examined by a veterinarian immediately. If it is dark or bitter chocolate, whatever the quantity, it is better to take certain precautions. The high amount of theobromine in dark chocolate means that only a small dose can poison a dog: it only takes 25 grams to poison a 20-pound dog. To treat theobromine poisoning, you will need to induce vomiting for two hours after eating the chocolate. If you think your dog may have eaten a significant amount of chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately. The time factor is crucial. French (France) | Contact us | Register | Open a session Animal care Puppy Less than 1 year Adult Dog 1-6 years Mature Dog 7 years and + Dog sick Cat sick Kitten Less than 1 year Adult Cat 1-6 years Mature Cat 7-10 years Senior Cat 11 years old and over Products and brands Or buy? Nutrition Why Hill's? For veterinarians | Contact us | Site map | Legal notices | Privacy Policy | Cookies © 2016 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, use of the symbol "™" on this site means trademarks of Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. Use of this site is subject to the terms described in our Legal Notices. This site is not an online store for Hill's products. Recommended by Vets worldwide .