How long does it take for chocolate poisoning to affect a dog

What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Chocolate?

If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, or they have any of these symptoms, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian or emergency vet right away:

Table of Contents Show

What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Chocolate?
COMMON CHOCOLATE SOURCES:
Foods Highest in Theobromine
What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?
Why Isn't Chocolate Toxic to Humans?
How long should I monitor my dog after eating chocolate?
Can a dog recover from chocolate poisoning?

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased body temperature
Increased reflex responses
Muscle rigidity
Rapid breathing
Increased heart rate
Low blood pressure
Seizures
Advanced signs (cardiac failure, weakness, and coma)

Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your dog has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit!

COMMON CHOCOLATE SOURCES:

Ice Cream Rich Chocolate
Serving: 1 cup ( 148g)
Theobromine: 178mg
Caffeine: 5.9mg

KIT KAT Wafer Bar
Serving: 1 bar (42g)
Theobromine: 48.7mg
Caffeine: 5.9mg

Peanut M&M's
Serving: 1 cup (170g)
Theobromine: 184mg
Caffeine: 17mg

REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups (2pk)
Serving: 2 cups (45g)
Theobromine: 32.4mg
Caffeine: 3.2mg

Ready to Eat Chocolate Pudding
Serving: 4 oz (108g)
Theobromine: 75.6mg
Caffeine: 2.2mg

Doughnut, cake-type, chocolate, sugared or glazed
Serving: 1 Doughnut (3' dia) (43g)
Theobromine: 12.6mg
Caffeine: 0.6mg

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar
Serving: 1.55 oz (43g)
Theobromine: 64mg
Caffeine: 9mg

Chocolate Chip Cookies , made with margarine
Serving: 1 Cookie Med (2 1/4" dia) (16g)
Theobromine: 20.3mg
Caffeine: 2.6mg

Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Serving: 2 Tbsp (39g)
Theobromine: 64mg
Caffeine: 5mg

Milky Way
Serving: 1 bar (58g)
Theobromine: 37.1 mg
Caffeine: 3.5mg

Hershey's KISSES (Milk Chocolate)
Serving: 9 pieces (41g)
Theobromine: 61mg
Caffeine: 9mg

Generic Hot Fudge Sundae Topping
Serving: 1 Sundae (158g)
Theobromine: 77.4mg
Caffeine: 1.6mg

Hershey's Semi-Sweet Baking Bar
Serving: 1 Tbsp (15g)
Theobromine: 55mg
Caffeine: 7mg

REESE'S PIECES Candy
Serving: 1 package (46g)
Theobromine: 0mg
Caffeine: 0mg

Cookies, brownies, commercially prepared
Serving: 1 Square (2 –3/4" sq x 7/8") (56g)
Theobromine: 43.7mg
Caffeine: 1.1mg

aThe amount of caffeine and theobromine will vary naturally due to growing conditions and cocoa bean sources and variety.

Foods Highest in Theobromine

Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened, processed with alkali [Dutch cocoa]	1 cup (86g)	2266 mg	67.1 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, squares	1 cup, grated (132g)	1712 mg	106 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened	1 cup (86g)	1769 mg	198 mg
Baking chocolate, unsweetened, liquid	1 oz (28g)	447 mg	13.2 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, regular, dry mix	1 Package (40g)	238 mg	7.2 mg
Desserts, rennin, chocolate, dry mix	1 Package, 2 oz (57g)	242 mg	7.4 mg
Puddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, instant, dry mix	1 Package, 1.4oz box (40g)	189 mg	5.6 mg
Syrups, chocolate, HERSHEY'S Genuine Chocolate Flavored Lite Syrup	2 tbsp (35g)	68.3 mg	2.1 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, processed with alkali	1 oz (28g)	685 mg	20.2 mg
Candies, chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids	I bar (101g)	810 mg	80.8 mg
Cocoa, dry powder, hi-fat or breakfast, plain	1 Tbsp (5g)	92.6 mg	10.3mg

What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?

Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. In general, though, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger.

For instance, 8 ounces (a ½ pound) of milk chocolate may sicken a 50-pound dog, whereas a dog of the same size can be poisoned by as little as 1 ounce of Baker's chocolate!

Why Isn't Chocolate Toxic to Humans?

Humans can break down and excrete methylxanthines such as theobromine much more efficiently than dogs.

"CAFFEINE & THEOBROMINE." The Hershey Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.
"Nutrition Information." Nutrition Facts, Calories in Food, Labels, Nutritional Information and Analysis – NutritionData.com. Condé Nast, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2013.

How long should I monitor my dog after eating chocolate?

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning will usually show within six to 12 hours, but could appear within one hour. If you know your dog has eaten chocolate, act immediately and don't wait for the signs to appear. We always recommend seeking veterinary advice if you have any concerns about the health of your pets.

Can a dog recover from chocolate poisoning?

Your dog must be carefully monitored until her symptoms subside, which may take up to seventy-two hours. The ASPCA Poison Control estimates twenty-five percent of dogs with chocolate poisoning recover within two days, however even with treatment, one in one hundred dogs with chocolate poisoning never recover.