Happy Spooky season to all our clients! Before everyone gets busy with all the kid’s activities for Halloween, I wanted to draw attention to some of the details of a fairly well known, but still important to me toxin in our dogs: chocolate. We all love this sweet season, but it’s essential to remember that chocolate can be a real danger for our dogs. So, let’s unwrap what you need to know about chocolate in dogs!

Why is Chocolate Dangerous for Dogs?

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs. While humans can metabolize these compounds relatively easily, our dogs process them much more slowly. This can lead to a dangerous buildup in their system. The severity of chocolate poisoning depends largely on the type of chocolate consumed:

  • White Chocolate: Contains very little theobromine, but it’s still not a good idea to give it to your dog due to high fat and sugar content.
  • Milk Chocolate: Has moderate theobromine levels. Even small amounts can cause problems for dogs, particularly smaller breeds.
  • Dark Chocolate: Contains significantly higher theobromine levels. Even a small amount can be dangerous, making it one of the most concerning types for dogs.
  • Baking Chocolate: Extremely high in theobromine and can be deadly, even in small quantities.
  • Cocoa Powder: Like baking chocolate, it’s highly concentrated in theobromine and poses a serious risk to dogs.

Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning

If your dog eats chocolate, the best thing is to get it removed before symptoms. If a dog has been into the chocolate and had time for absorption, or had a higher dose and/or stronger chocolate, this is what you might see:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased heart rate
  • Restlessness or hyperactivity
  • Muscle tremors
  • Seizures
In severe cases, chocolate ingestion can lead to coma or even death. We actually ALWAYS calculate out a dose to determine which of those categories your pup is likely to fall under – this helps us determine how worried we are and what treatment is going to look like. If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate, please contact us immediately or the local emergency veterinarian.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe This Halloween

Now, let’s talk about some practical steps you can take to keep your dog safe during Halloween:

  • Candy Storage: Store all chocolate and candy in sealed containers, well out of reach of curious noses. High cabinets or pantry shelves are your best bets.
  • Educate Trick-or-Treaters: If children are visiting your home for treats, remind them not to share their candy with pets.
  • Create a Safe Space: On Halloween night, your home might be bustling with activity. Set up a quiet, safe area for your dog to relax, away from the excitement and potential temptations (those sugar-free or xylitol candies are also a risk but for different reasons!).
    Side-note: If visitors are not your dog’s thing, then it might be best to call the front desk to book in a boarding stay to avoid the door bell and parties.
  • Provide Dog-Friendly Treats: Stock up on dog-friendly treats instead of chocolate. There are now entire aisles of dog treats – some of which are a bit rich, so even just a baby carrot or piece of white chicken breast for those with sensitive stomachs.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If your dog manages to sneak a piece of chocolate, don’t panic. Here’s what you should do:

  • Assess the Situation: Determine the type and amount (grams, number of candies, anything to quantify the ingestion) and type of chocolate consumed. This information will be crucial for us to determine the severity along with your dog’s current weight.
  • Call Banderas Pet Hospital: Contact us immediately, sometimes the best thing to do is to have them come in to remove the source – but this is best done BEFORE symptoms.
  • Inducing Vomiting: It’s important to note that chocolate can collect in your dog’s stomach. Inducing vomiting is often recommended and is most effective when done within 2 hours for most things, but because of the nature of chocolate (its fatty) it can form a ball of chocolate in the stomach. As an emergency veterinarian, I have been able to remove chocolate by vomiting as late as 8-9 hours! Of course this depends on any symptoms at the time, but we would guide you through this. The safest way to do this is at the veterinary clinic (a lot of old home remedies are no longer recommended due to their own side-effects and caustic trauma to the esophagus (throat).
  • Decontamination and monitoring: Once your dog is here for assessment, we can begin treatment, which could include inducing vomiting or administering activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of theobromine. Sometimes they require fluids and monitoring for higher, seizure or life-threatening doses. Thankfully this is less common with prompt care!
  • After-Hours Emergencies: If you find yourself in an emergency after hours, don’t hesitate to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. They can provide valuable guidance and support and have access to all the types and amounts of varying chocolates.

As we prep for the fall festivities, let’s keep our eyes open – prevention is the best cure- but when accidents occur, removal of any toxins is second best. Enjoy the festivities, stay safe, and have a spooktacular Halloween!