Is chocolate safe for dogs?

No — and the answer matters more than people think. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs metabolise much slower than we do. The danger depends on three things: type of chocolate, your dog's weight, and how much they ate.

Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous (high theobromine per gram). Milk chocolate is less dangerous per ounce, but a 20-pound dog raiding a Halloween bag can still get sick. White chocolate has trace amounts and isn't a clinical concern in normal quantities.

If your dog ate chocolate, don't wait — call your vet or an emergency line. In the US: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, 888-426-4435 (a small fee may apply). Have ready: how much, what kind, when, and your dog's weight.

Symptoms to watch for in the first 6–12 hours: vomiting, diarrhoea, unusual restlessness, racing heart, tremors. Don't induce vomiting yourself unless told to by a vet.