Chocolate is toxic to dogs due to theobromine and caffeine content, and the toxic amount depends on the type of chocolate and the dog's weight. The darker and more bitter the chocolate (such as baking or dark chocolate), the more toxic it is. Typical toxic doses are as follows:
- Dark baking chocolate: About 0.5 ounces per pound of body weight is potentially fatal (e.g., 5 ounces for a 10 lb dog).
- Semi-sweet baking chocolate: About 0.75 ounces per pound of body weight.
- Milk chocolate: About 3 ounces per pound of body weight (e.g., 30 ounces for a 10 lb dog).
- Even small amounts of dark chocolate or cocoa powder (as little as 20-40 grams for small dogs) can cause severe poisoning.
- White chocolate contains minimal theobromine but can cause problems if ingested in very large amounts.
If a dog eats half the potentially toxic dose or shows symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or seizures, a vet should be contacted immediately. Symptoms can appear within 1-6 hours after ingestion and worsen rapidly. In summary, toxicity varies widely with chocolate type and dog size, but any ingestion of dark or baking chocolate above a fraction of an ounce per pound of body weight can be dangerous or fatal for dogs. Milk chocolate requires a larger amount to reach toxicity but still poses significant risk in substantial quantities.
