How Much Chocolate Will Make A Big Dog Sick?

A good rule of thumb: For a 50-pound dog, an ounce of baker’s chocolate is toxic, while nine ounces of milk chocolate is toxic.

I’ll never forget, the day I came home from work and saw that Odin and ate a small plastic bag full of chocolate and candy.

It was only 2 months after we adopted him and my heart dropped. 

I quickly took inventory of what candy was still in the bag and what wasn’t. 

The good news was that there wasn’t any chocolate in the bag that could have harmed him. 

The bad news was that only 1/4 of the plastic bag was left. 

Odin was fine but the incident was enough to make my heart drop and my stomach flip. 

Everyone in my house has been trained not to leave their plates, food, snacks, and candy out but accidents happen and dogs will take full advantage of them if given the opportunity. 

Most dog owners know that chocolate is a big no-no for our gentle giants but  our colossal canines can’t resist the sweet temptation.

So, what do you do when your big dog decides to snack on your secret stash of chocolate?

Fear not, because we’re here to tell you when to start worrying (and when to chuckle) if your lovable but curious giant dives into the cocoa conundrum.

Why is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs? 

The chemical toxicity for dogs is due to the ingredient Theobromine. 

Humans can easily metabolize theobromine, but dogs metabolize it much slower which allows it to build up to toxic levels in their system.

Caffeine is also present in chocolate and dogs can not process it the same way as humans.

The Darker the Chocolate the More Toxic To Dogs

Imagine your gentle giant, the size of a small horse, discovering your hidden chocolate treasure trove.

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate – it’s all deliciously toxic to dogs, but dark chocolate packs an extra punch.

So, if your oversized pup wolfed down a teeny milk chocolate square, you might just get away with a little tummy trouble and some epic puppy eyes.

Chocolate Varieties & Canine Cravings

The type of chocolate a dog eats makes a difference in how sick it might get.

Different types of chocolate contain different levels of Theobromine.

Cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate contain the highest levels of Theobromine. 

The high level of theobromine in dark chocolate means it takes only a very small amount to poison a dog.

Milk chocolate and white chocolate have the lowest levels of Theobromine.

According to VIN, Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per ounce while semisweet chocolate contains 150 mg per ounce, and baking chocolate contains 390 mg per ounce.

White chocolate has virtually no theobromine and is only a problem because of its fat content.

Signs Of Chocolate Poisoning In Dogs

Size Matters… Mostly

Sometimes size doesn’t matter but in this case, size might be on your big dog’s side. 

Larger dogs can generally handle more theobromine, the naughty ingredient in chocolate.

However, NEVER assume your gentle giant is invincible!

Every dog is different, and some might react like they just stumbled upon a chocolate fountain at a dessert buffet.

Symptoms and signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs will vary based on the size of the dog.

A small amount of chocolate will probably only give a small dog an upset stomach with vomiting or diarrhea.

Dogs that are often mistaken for a small pony such as the Newfoundland or Great Dane may not show any signs of distress after eating small amounts of milk chocolate or white chocolate.

When a dog eats large amounts of a chocolate product that contains high levels of theobromine there may be other signs of chocolate toxicity.

Common signs of severe chocolate toxicity in dogs can be:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Internal bleeding
• Excessive urination
• Heart failure
• Vomiting

Common mild symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Panting
• Restlessness
• Increased thirst

Due to the high-fat content, chocolate can also cause pancreatitis in some dogs. 

How Long Does it Take For a Dog to Get Sick After Eating Chocolate?

According to Merck Veterinary Manual, clinical signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours after your dog has eaten it and it can take up to 4 days for the effects of chocolate to make it out of the dog’s system. 

If you know your dog ate chocolate, don’t wait for signs to appear, err on the side of caution and call your vet pronto!

Share the chocolate type, amount, and your pup’s weight.

Your vet will be your superhero, ready to save the day (or night).

The faster you act, the better the odds your four-legged buddy will make it out with a wagging tail.

How Much Chocolate Is Toxic To Big Dogs

Even though I was pretty sure that Odin didn’t eat enough chocolate to make him sick I still wanted to double-check. 

Doing the (Doggy) Math

Want to calculate the potential drama?

Take the theobromine content in the chocolate, the weight of your giant furball, and mix it up with a pinch of anxiety.

Rule of thumb: A doggy danger zone is usually around 100-200 milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of doggo.

So, for a 30-kilogram floof, you’re looking at 3,000 to 6,000 milligrams of theobromine for the drama to unfold.

Or you could do it the easy way and use this Dog Chocolate Toxicity Calculator that is recommended by VIN.

It obviously doesn’t replace veterinary advice but it’s nice to have if your dog has eaten chocolate so that you know what steps should be taken immediately if any. 

What About Carob for Dogs?

Sometimes you’ll see dog treats with what looks like carob in or on them.

This is, in most cases, not chocolate but carob. 

Carob is made from the bean pods of the carob tree and does not contain theobromine so it is not toxic to dogs or cats.

It is 100% natural and healthy for dogs when given in moderation.

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If your dog has eaten chocolate it’s important to not take any chance and contact your veterinarian.

If your veterinarian is closed or you can’t get ahold of them, call the Pet Poison Helpline.

They will be able to tell you if your dog has eaten a toxic amount of chocolate and if you should seek medical attention.

In most cases, a Newfie like Lou or Odin that weigh about 140 pounds and eat one chocolate chip cookie will be fine.

They would probably be fine if they ate an entire sleeve of chocolate chip cookies but that’s not claim that I would make about a dog I didn’t know. 

Eating very small amounts of milk chocolate or chocolate-flavored treats will not harm most big dogs, but it’s not worth it to take the risk. 

Many factors, including the size of a dog, breed, health status and of course the type and amount of chocolate ingested, determine how a particular dog will respond to chocolate ingestion.

Smaller dogs and older dogs are more at risk of chocolate toxicity, but dogs of any size can suffer the negative effects of theobromine ingestion.

It’s also best practice to make sure that your chocolate stash is stored out of a dog’s reach at all times including chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and any chocolate cakes. 

And……….. if you’re giving chocolate as a gift around the holidays to a dog owner, make sure to let the recipient know so that they can keep it out of their dog’s reach. 

Chocolate is no laughing matter, but your big dog’s antics sure are.

Remember the signs, act quickly, and keep your pup’s big paws off your cocoa concoctions.

With a little luck and a lot of love, you and your gentle giant will share many more sweet (chocolate-free) moments together!

Crystal Clear Disclosure. I am not a veterinarian and information in this article does not or never will, substitute for veterinarian care. 

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