health
How much chocolate is toxic to my dog?
The rough toxicity numbers
Theobromine content varies dramatically by product: white chocolate ~1 mg/oz, milk chocolate ~60 mg/oz, semisweet ~150 mg/oz, dark ~150-200 mg/oz, baking chocolate ~400 mg/oz, cocoa powder ~800 mg/oz. Mild signs (vomiting, restlessness) begin around 20 mg/kg, moderate signs (tachycardia, hyperactivity) around 40 mg/kg, and severe signs (tremors, seizures, cardiac arrhythmia) at 60+ mg/kg. Dogs metabolize theobromine slowly, half-life ~17.5 hours, so signs persist for days.
What to do if your dog ate chocolate
- Estimate the amount and type as accurately as possible (check the wrapper, weigh what is left).
- Call ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661), both offer 24/7 consultation for a small fee and will give you a specific risk assessment and instruction.
- Do not induce vomiting at home without professional direction, hydrogen peroxide dosing is easy to get wrong and can cause additional injury.
- Have your dog seen if the calculated dose is above ~20 mg/kg or if any signs are present. Emergency vet if the dose is high or the dog is symptomatic.
Prevention that actually works
Store chocolate at counter height in closed cabinets, not on countertops or in low pantry drawers. The most common holiday cases are advent calendars, Easter eggs, and unattended baking ingredients. Baking chocolate is the most dangerous per gram and the least appetizing to humans, if you keep it in the house at all, keep it locked away.