Pet safety · Free toolYour dog ate chocolate?
Your dog ate chocolate?
Check if it's dangerous.
This calculator uses the standard veterinary theobromine formula. Enter your dog's weight, what they ate, and how much — we'll tell you the severity range and whether you need to call the vet now.
Already seeing symptoms? Vomiting, tremors, racing heartbeat, or collapse — skip the calculator and call your vet or an emergency line right now.
Why chocolate is toxic to dogs.
Chocolate contains theobromine — a caffeine-like compound dogs metabolise very slowly. While humans clear it in a few hours, dogs can take 17+ hours, so it builds up to toxic levels. Darker chocolate = more theobromine = more dangerous.
- White chocolate
- ~0.1 mg theobromine per gram
- Milk chocolate
- ~1.5 mg theobromine per gram
- Dark chocolate (50–70%)
- ~5.5 mg theobromine per gram
- Very dark (70%+)
- ~8.5 mg theobromine per gram
- Baking / cocoa powder
- ~16 mg theobromine per gram
Symptoms to watch for.
Symptoms usually appear within 6–12 hours of eating and can last 24–72 hours.
Early (mild)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Restlessness
- Excessive thirst
- Panting
Moderate
- Rapid heartbeat
- Tremors or twitching
- Agitation / pacing
- High temperature
- Muscle stiffness
Severe
- Seizures
- Heart arrhythmia
- Collapse
- Unresponsive
- Blue gums
When to call the vet.
Always call if the result is moderate or severe — even if your dog seems fine.
Err on the side of calling for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with heart, liver, or kidney issues — they're more vulnerable.
Call immediately if symptoms appear: vomiting, tremors, racing heartbeat, or anything unusual.
Don't wait for symptoms to confirm — if the dose is concerning, call first. Early treatment (within 2 hours of eating) is the most effective.
Got more questions about your dog?
CRO — our free pet assistant — can answer follow-up questions about recovery, what to feed next, or when to contact the vet.
FAQ
Common questions.
My dog ate chocolate but seems fine — do I still need to call the vet?
Symptoms can take 6–12 hours to appear. If the dose is near or above the mild threshold (20 mg/kg), call your vet even if your dog looks fine. Early treatment is far more effective than waiting for symptoms.
Is white chocolate dangerous?
White chocolate has negligible theobromine (~0.1 mg/g) and rarely causes toxicity. The fat and sugar can still cause vomiting or pancreatitis, especially in small dogs — but it's not an emergency.
How long until symptoms appear?
Typically 6–12 hours. Symptoms can last 24–72 hours because dogs metabolise theobromine very slowly. If your dog ate chocolate less than 2 hours ago, a vet can often induce vomiting — that's why calling quickly matters.
What about cats?
Cats can also get chocolate poisoning, but they rarely eat chocolate voluntarily. The thresholds are similar. If your cat ate chocolate, treat it the same way — calculate the dose and call the vet.
Can I induce vomiting at home?
Not without vet guidance. Hydrogen peroxide is sometimes used under direction, but only if the chocolate was eaten within the last 2 hours and your dog is alert. Never induce vomiting if your dog is already showing severe symptoms — they could aspirate.