Last reviewed: August 2026
No. Chocolate is toxic to dogs because of theobromine and caffeine, compounds dogs metabolise far more slowly than humans do. Darker, more bitter chocolate is more dangerous gram for gram than milk chocolate. Severity depends on how much your dog weighs and how much — and what type — they ate.
Chocolate contains methylxanthines — mainly theobromine, with some caffeine. Both stimulate the central nervous system and heart. Humans clear theobromine from the bloodstream in a few hours; dogs take roughly 2–4 times longer, so it builds up to toxic levels far more easily on the same relative dose.
Theobromine concentration varies enormously by chocolate type:
| Chocolate type | Approx. theobromine per 100g |
|---|---|
| White chocolate | Negligible (essentially not a theobromine risk) |
| Milk chocolate | ~150–200mg |
| Dark chocolate | ~500–800mg |
| Baking / cocoa powder | ~1300–2000mg |
As a rough clinical guide, mild signs can appear from around 9mg of theobromine per kg of body weight, with more severe cardiac and neurological effects from roughly 40–50mg/kg and above. This means a 25g square of baking chocolate can be dangerous for a small dog, while a similar amount of white chocolate is a fat-and-sugar problem rather than a theobromine one.
| Time after ingestion | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 2–4 hours | Vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, excessive thirst |
| 4–12 hours | Rapid heart rate, panting, tremors, hyperactivity |
| 12+ hours (severe cases) | Seizures, irregular heart rhythm, collapse |
Because theobromine has a long half-life in dogs, symptoms can persist or worsen over 24–72 hours even after initial treatment.
South Africa: Contact your nearest 24-hour emergency vet clinic immediately.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (US, reference only): +1-888-426-4435 — typically charges a consultation fee for non-US callers.
This page is general educational information, not a substitute for veterinary advice.