Here's why:
* Theobromine is a stimulant: Unlike humans, dogs are unable to metabolize theobromine quickly. It stays in their system for a longer period, leading to a build-up of the compound.
* Toxicity: Theobromine acts as a stimulant in dogs, causing increased heart rate, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and even death in severe cases.
* Different levels of toxicity: Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of theobromine, followed by milk chocolate, and then white chocolate (which has very little theobromine).
* Size matters: Smaller dogs are more susceptible to the effects of theobromine due to their lower body weight.
It's important to remember that even small amounts of chocolate can be toxic to dogs, so it's best to keep it completely out of their reach.