Is Chocolate / cocoa toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: cocoa / dark chocolate / cocoa powder
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Identify the chocolate type and estimated amount; keep the packaging. Inducing vomiting within 2 hours (at the vet) works best — don't wait for symptoms. Never induce vomiting yourself, especially if tremors have started.
Toxicity notes
Contains theobromine, which dogs metabolize very slowly. Dark/baking chocolate is the most dangerous — 100g of dark chocolate reaches toxic levels for a 15kg dog. Cats are more sensitive but rarely volunteer to eat it.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Vomiting and diarrhea
- • Agitation and restlessness
- • Rapid heart rate
- • Tremors and seizures
- • Excessive drinking and urination
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Contains theobromine, which dogs metabolize very slowly. Dark/baking chocolate is the most dangerous — 100g of dark chocolate reaches toxic levels for a 15kg dog. Cats are more sensitive but rarely volunteer to eat it.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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