Chocolate Toxicity

Easter and kid’s parties are a great time with chocolate often being enjoyed by all. However, chocolate for your pets is a poison, resulting in chocolate toxicity.

You should avoid giving your dog chocolate. They love the taste just like us, which means accidents can happen if chocolate is available around the home.

Remember, dark chocolate has higher levels of toxic theobromine present, so is more dangerous to dogs than milk chocolate.

There is only a short window of opportunity to induce vomiting in dogs who have ingested chocolate (between 1-3 hours), so if you are uncertain, it is safest to come in for a consultation and have our veterinary team induce vomiting if required and assess vital signs to see if your pet is in any danger. Cats tend to leave chocolate alone, so it is not common for cats to present with chocolate toxicity, but never say never! Keeping chocolate out of reach for your pets is a much better option than waiting until it’s too late.

Chocolate ingestion in toxic amounts can cause:

• Gastrointestinal signs – vomiting and diarrhoea
• Tachycardia – elevated heart rate
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Death

Chocolate Toxicity Calculator

This calculator will provide you with basic information on the likely side effects of chocolate ingestion in dogs.

Simply enter your dog’s weight (in kilograms), the type of chocolate, and the amount of chocolate (in grams).

The calculator will then provide you with the likely symptoms your pet may experience. Remember, you should always contact Turramurra Vet Hospital for specific advice about your pet.

The calculator is a guide only. It is not a diagnostic tool. If you are concerned your pet has ingested chocolate of any form, please seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.