Chocolate Toxicities in Dogs

Chocolate ingestion is one of the most common toxicities we see here in the emergency room. This is because chocolate is readily available in most households, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, as well as caffeine. Dogs cannot metabolize theobromine or caffeine as well as humans, therefore, they are more sensitive to these chemicals which results in toxicity. The amount of theobromine present differs with the type of chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more amounts of theobromine it contains. Baking chocolate and gourmet chocolate are the most highly concentrated with this chemical. White chocolate rarely poses any threat of poisoning.

If your pets have ingested chocolate, there are various clinical signs depending on the type of chocolate. The most common clinical symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting, restlessness, excessive urination, and rapid heart rate. There are severe cases that cause tremors, seizures, and life threatening heart arrhythmias . Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning can take hours to develop. When in doubt, immediate veterinary treatment is recommended for any chocolate ingestion.

Treatment for chocolate toxicity is dependent on how much and what type of chocolate was ingested. If treated early, inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to prevent absorption of theobromine into the body is recommended. It is very common to provide supportive intravenous fluid therapy to stabilize and help excrete the theobromine. Theobromine may be reabsorbed from the bladder, so intravenous fluids and frequent walks to encourage urination may be necessary. At the same time, monitoring for signs of agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heart rhythm, and high blood pressure will be performed under direction of your veterinarian. Additional medications may be needed if your pets experience any of these symptoms.

If you believe your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately or call the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680) for advice.