When it comes to chocolate, it’s imperative to remember this fact: Dark = dangerous! Any ingestion of chocolate is bad for a dog; whether it eats a toxic dose, your dog could suffer some serious adverse reactions. Baking chocolate usually comes in large bars or chunks of 4 oz and is not sweet so it is only used for making confections. of white chocolate for a 30-pound dog all would require a call to the vet. Good white chocolate (if it even exists) is not actually white. And unlike most cats, which don’t have a sweet tooth, dogs will eat almost anything. Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Chocolate types. This is a bad news you cannot share your chocolate with your canine companion. CHOCOLATE AND DOGS, CATS, OR OTHER PETS = BAD BAD BAD! 44-64 mg/oz in milk chocolate. The “Formula” In case you’re wondering how we came up with the information above, there’s a formula. One pound of milk chocolate is poisonous enough for 20 pound dog. If it’s too white, that means cocoa butter – a pale yellow or ivory – wasn’t even used. White chocolate contains only trace amounts of caffeine and theobromine, but is still bad for your cat or dog and should still be avoided. White chocolate does not contain theobromine, the chemical in regular chocolate that is harmful to dogs. Thanks for writing in. 150-160 mg/oz in semi-sweet and sweet dark chocolate. Approximately 47 pounds of white chocolate for a 10-pound dog, 95 pounds of white chocolate for a 20-pound dog, and 145 pounds(!) Be it dark or white chocolate, dogs are not recommended to eat them. No but I have a Boston terrier named Zoey who at a whole non hollow dark chocolate bunny. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. I asked him and he assured me that it is indeed poisonous. However, some white chocolate brands of white chocolate can still be … Toxicity occurs when 45 oz. Most people know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs but may not know why or how much is toxic to a dog. What to do if your dog eats chocolate. Baking chocolate has the highest amount of chocolate liquor and is, therefore, the worst for dogs. dog would have to consume 28 lbs. They also don’t know when they’re full, Wismer says. From our study, we found that the average chocolate bar found in the market contains 2/3 ounces of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate: 300-320 mg theobromine. Can cats eat chocolate? The higher the cocoa content, the more theobromine it contains, so 100% pure baking chocolate has much more theobromine than milk chocolate, which in turn has more than white chocolate. White chocolate: Minimal amounts of theobromine due to the absence of cocoa (keep in mind white chocolate still contains high levels of sugar and fat, and therefore shouldn’t be fed to your dog). While a chocolate bar may not appeal to them, any kind of milk-based chocolate drink can certainly be a risk around any feline! The most dangerous types of chocolate include dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate, due to higher levels of theobromine. This is why a relatively small amount of chocolate can be very bad for your dog. Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine which primarily affects the nervous system, cardiovascular system (heart and circulation) and urination. Since even a small dose of theobromine is … (Dogs make up 95% of all our chocolate calls, as cats are usually too discriminating to eat chocolate!) While dogs make up about 95% of chocolate consumption calls to pet poison hotlines, ... White chocolate has extremely low levels of the chemicals needed to produce toxic effects in a cat. Even if you think it might not be serious, if you know or suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet right away. In general, though, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger. Any kind of chocolate is not good for dogs. My dogs go crazy for chocolate so I usually give them a tiny sliver just to let them taste it. Chocolate contains a toxic substance called theobromine, which human bodies can process quickly but pooches cannot. But 1 ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight could still be deadly. Milk chocolate: 88-128 mg theobromine. Dog owners know better than to leave a Toblerone or two laying around. A large dog can consume a great deal more chocolate than a small dog before they will suffer the ill effects. This generally contains the sweetener xylitol (read more about xylitol poisoning) and this is horrendously toxic to dogs.It only takes a tiny amount to be deadly, causing a rapid drop in blood glucose levels and even liver failure if a dog survives for long enough. My friends also gave their dogs chocolate treats and I have never heard of a problem. Hello. Sweeter chocolate that’s cut with lots of milk and sugar (like milk chocolate and white chocolate) aren’t as toxic as their more bitter counterparts semisweet, dark, and baking. And lived and is still alive. However, there is a safe substitute that’s used in some dog treats. To know more about why is chocolate bad for dogs you can use the below given link http://birrd.com/why-is-chocolate-bad-for-dogs/ 450 mg/oz in unsweetened (baker's) chocolate. In smaller dogs, even the wrappers from candy can result in a secondary obstruction in the stomach or intestines. ***** Vets Now assumes no liability for the content of this page. White chocolate doesn’t even contain cocoa solids — it’s typically made of cocoa butter, sugar, milk products, vanilla, and lecithin — so if your cat nibbled some of that, you can probably breathe easy. **** If more than one dog may be affected, it’s advisable to present all of them to the vet. Do you know chocolates can be fatal for dogs? Chocolate isn't that bad but you shouldn't say '' hear dogie want a chocolate bar.'' White chocolate is bad for squirrels, cats, dogs, and other animals. Fortunately, white chocolate is the least toxic of all the chocolates. White chocolate has the least concentration of theobromine, while baking chocolate has the greatest concentration. Vets can usually treat chocolate poisoning by inducing vomiting and with supportive therapy in hospital but it is important to seek veterinary attention quickly. When compared to milk chocolate (the second least toxic of all the chocolates), it is anywhere from 10 to 100 times less toxic (depends on … My dog ate a LOT of chocolate for a period of years, up until I was told that it’s bad for them, when I quite feeding them chocolate, even though I seriously doubted (and still do). Cocoa, cooking chocolate and dark chocolate have the highest levels, while milk chocolate and white chocolate have the lowest. White chocolate (white chocolate is not a problem as it contains none of the dangerous methylxanthines found in true chocolate products) 3. Chocolate is also toxic for other pet species including cats, but most problems are seen in dogs as many of them love the taste of chocolate and will eat as much as they can get their paws on! So that’s the bad news. Chocolate: Most pet parents are well aware that chocolate is bad for dogs. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea, and in more severe cases, it can lead to heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death. Its side effects on dogs have been studied for decades and we know exactly why is chocolate bad for dogs (Finlay 2005). Milk chocolate: It is more dangerous than White chocolate. *** Please be aware that while white chocolate typically contains negligible amounts of theobromine, it may contain cocoa butter, sugar, butterfat and milk solids, all of which are bad for dogs and may cause a stomach upset. In more than 12 years of treating dogs for chocolate ingestion, I have yet to lose a patient. If you’re mathematically inclined, you can follow the table below and get a … Even if your dog eats chocolate and does not ingest a toxic dose there are other serious consequences to eating the chocolate such as severe stomach and intestinal upset, pancreatitis, diarrhea, vomiting and more. White Chocolate - This contains very little theobromine because it contains very little cocoa bean. While half pound is enough for a 10 pound dog. One other chocolate product you definitely need to be aware of is sugar-free chocolate. Even though they’re less likely to try and steal it away from under your nose, chocolate is still bad for cats, just as it is for dogs. It’s called carob – a brown powder extracted from the pods of a carob tree, which is native to the Mediterranean. White chocolate is simply unhealthy for them, but not toxic. Theobromine levels of different types of chocolate . In high enough doses, it can be toxic to all species, including humans! It's also worth remembering that different types of chocolate have different levels of theobromine. 5. “They will eat as much as they can get ahold of. A 10 lb. Both dogs weigh approximately 25 pounds and were in good health when they ate the candy. The amount of chocolate your dog … Your dog can eat 200 ounces of white chocolate for each pound of his body weight. Can dogs eat chocolate? ALL CHOCOLATE CONTAINS THEOBROMINE, THEREFORE ALL CHOCOLATE IS BAD FOR PETS. 800 mg/oz in dry cocoa powder. Even though white chocolate must be … Reggie, her brother, ate the gourmet pieces that were made with 72 percent cocoa. Dark chocolates, baking chocolate, and dry cocoa powder are more dangerous than white or milk chocolate. For a dog weighing 20 pounds, a 250 ounces of white chocolate will start the signs and symptoms of chocolate poisoning, while it takes 125 ounces of white chocolate for a 10 pounds dog. It will take just one ounce per pound of body weight of your dog to deadly poison it. i honeslt dont think chocolate is that bad for dogs because i used to give my dogs candy bars every other week and they lived to be 10 years old.it may be kinda bad though.but white chocolate is only half as bad as real chocolate because real chocolate is made of the cocoa in the cocoa tree,but white chocolate is only its butter. What’s in it. Dogs would love to enjoy a chocolate treat but is it safe for them? Why is Chocolate Bad for Dogs? dog would have to eat 56 lbs. The female dog, Rosie, really liked the white chocolate pieces and ate those exclusively. When the dogs' owner came home from work, she noticed that Rosie had a decreased appetite and mild diarrhea. Beware of sugar-free chocolate. If they get their paws on chocolate it can be fatal. What Makes Chocolate Toxic to Dogs. Baking chocolate: 780-900 mg theobromine. 255 mg/oz in cocoa bean mulch. But try not and feed your dog chocolate.But white chocolate is just fine and half of the chocolate we eat isn't actual chocolate. Make sure you check the label…or better yet, don’t buy white chocolate. of white chocolate, while a 20 lb. Chocolate is one of the most common foods that is bad for dogs, so we figured we'd knock it off the list early. If your dog or pet has ingested chocolate (even a small amount) you should contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible for advice. This is followed by semisweet and dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate flavored cakes or cookies. Now for the good news. White chocolate contains the very least amount of theobromine. I’ve a friend who is a veterinarian. per pound of body weight is consumed. White chocolate has an insignificant amount of theobromine, but … Some cheaper brands (hint: Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Cream bars) might use vegetable oil or some other fat and then add artificial coloring. 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