Why does chocolate kill dogs and puppies?

Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs because of a substance in it called Theobromine. However, it will not kill all dogs and puppies. This substance makes dogs and puppies sick because they cannot metabolise it as efficiently as humans. Dogs usually develop symptoms within 6 to 12 hours after eating chocolate, but symptoms may start to appear as quickly as 30 minutes or take as long as 48 hours to develop.

The darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine it will generally have. White chocolate contains little to no theobromine, while milk chocolate contains more than white chocolate, but less than dark chocolate or baking chocolate. Therefore, dark chocolate is the most dangerous type for dogs of all sizes. Dogs should never be fed chocolate, and chocolate should be kept out of their reach. It can be life-saving.

While the toxicity of chocolate varies on the type of chocolate and the weight of the dog or puppy, as a rule of thumb:

- Milk Chocolate: 0.5 ounce per pound of dog weight can cause symptoms.

- Dark Chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound of dog weight can cause symptoms.

- Baking Chocolate: 0.03 ounce per pound of dog weight can cause symptoms.

Symptoms associated with chocolate consumption in dogs and puppies include:

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Rapid breathing

Increased thirst

Increased urination

Hyperactivity

Restlessness

Tremors

Seizures

Death

If your dog or puppy shows any of these symptoms after consuming chocolate, please contact your veterinarian. Please share this information with any dog or puppy owners you may know.