We all know how hard it can be to resist a temptingly fragrant square of chocolate. Unfortunately, the same goes for our four-legged buddies, who love to gobble up this delicious sweet the moment we're not looking. It's well known that chocolate is unsuitable and dangerous for dogs. That's why it's good to know which symptoms to watch for, what to do in such a situation, when to seek veterinary help and how to protect our pets from this treat.

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?
Among other things, chocolate contains a substance called THEOBROMINE. It is a substance with stimulating, energising effects. In certain doses it is toxic to dogs. This is because a dog's body lacks the enzymes that would break this substance down quickly. The breakdown process is very slow. As a result, toxic levels of theobromine start to build up in the dog's body and the effects last for a long time. Unfortunately, this means dogs are very sensitive to theobromine, and even eating a small amount can cause health problems. The amount that is life-threatening for a dog depends on the WEIGHT of the animal and the TYPE of chocolate it ate. In general, the higher the theobromine content of the chocolate, the more poisonous it is for dogs and the more serious the consequences.

AVERAGE theobromine content per 100 grams of chocolate (the amount of theobromine can vary considerably not only by type of chocolate but also by cocoa content.)

Cocoa powder                                  2 660mg.

Baking chocolate                              1 400mg.

Dark chocolate                                     760mg.

Milk chocolate                                   200mg.

White chocolate                                         1.0mg.

The lethal dose of theobromine for a healthy dog is 100-250 mg/kg of body weight. At an average theobromine dose of 175mg/kg, a 100-gram bar of baking chocolate can kill a dog weighing 8 kg. 

How does poisoning present and what are the symptoms?

Signs of poisoning in dogs differ depending on how much they managed to eat. Because chocolate is absorbed from the animal's digestive tract very slowly, clinical signs of poisoning usually develop within 24 hours. The problems can then persist for 48–72 hours. The most common symptomswe may notice are vomiting and abdominal pain, later also restlessness, nervousness, hyperactivity, poor coordination, a rapid heart rate and rapid breathing. In serious cases muscle stiffness, muscle tremors, raised body temperature, seizures or heart arrhythmia may also appear. The prognosis is good if treatment of the affected animal starts in time.

What to do if your dog has eaten chocolate?

If you know roughly how many grams of chocolate your dog has eaten, you can, before contacting your vet, use a toxicity calculator, which is available online. It will work out what amount of chocolate is dangerous for your dog. It can be very difficult to know for sure how much chocolate your dog ate, so in that case it's safer to call a veterinary clinic, where the vet will explain what to do and whether a visit is necessary.

When you contact your vet, it's good to have specific information ready, which will help the vet decide better whether your dog needs treatment. 

If possible, note down:

1. Roughly how much chocolate your dog ate
2. What type of chocolate was eaten
3. When your dog ate it
4. How much your dog weighs

If treatment is needed, the vet will focus on reducing the absorption of theobromine in the dog's body. If necessary, anti-seizure medication and medicines to treat heart rhythm disorders are also given. If treatment starts in time, the dog will recover.

Keep all chocolate and other sweets out of your dog's reach – you'll avoid unnecessary trouble and health complications. 

Please note: This article is for information only and does not replace professional advice or an examination of the animal by a vet.