Chocolate Toxicity Calculator for Dogs

While its common knowledge for humans chocolate isn’t good for dogs, they are yet to learn this and a dog wolfing down (pun intended) your special treat is quite common. This chocolate toxicity calculator is a rough estimate to know how much chocolate is too much for your dog. And as always, if in doubt please talk to your vet. This is especially important If you suspect your dog has consumed chocolate, particularly dark/raw chocolate.

Most chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine. This can affect the central nervous system in canines as it is metabolised by dogs at a far slower rate than you or I. This can result in toxic levels in a dogs body from relatively small amounts that put the dogs heart under a lot of strain. In more serious cases, seizures, coma or death can occur.

The severity of the situation depends on your dogs size and the amount of theobromine eaten. When the amount is higher than 20mg/kg BW symptoms of chocolate poisoning will develop. Symptoms will worsen up until about 100mg/kg BW, which is considered a lethal dose.

It is important to act quickly if you suspect your dog has consumed chocolate, particularly dark/raw chocolate. The more common early signs of chocolate poisoning will be vomiting and diarrhoea. It can take up to 12 hours for symptoms to become show.

Treatment will vary based on how much the dog has consumed and how long ago it was. A common treatment if its early days is to induce vomiting to expel the chocolate, also activated charcoal with anti-vomiting medicine may then be given to absorb toxins in the digestive system. More severe cases may need specialist care.