With the holiday season approaching, you’re likely to have plenty of delicious chocolatey treats in your home. If you have a dog, make sure your canine friend isn’t tempted to try a sample. Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a compound called theobromine, which they can’t metabolize. If your pooch eats too much chocolate, they’ll get sick and require treatment at the animal hospital.

How to Respond When Your Dog Eats Chocolate

1. Take It Away

If you catch your pooch in the act of eating this sweet treat, immediately take it away and remove it from their mouth. If you only find evidence of chocolate consumption, like wrappers or missing candy, figure out how much was eaten. Generally, chocolate is toxic at one ounce per pound of body weight. For instance, if your large dog only ate a single chocolate chip cookie, they may not get sick. A chihuahua, on the other hand, will become ill with less chocolate.

2. Watch for Signs of Illness

Illness from chocolate consumption usually manifests within six to 12 hours and lasts for about 72 hours. While vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms, your dog may also become restless, urinate more, and experience tremors. In rare cases, particularly with older dogs or those with preexisting health problems, eating chocolate can cause seizures.

3. Call the Veterinarian

Even if your furry friend had only a small amount of theobromine, call the animal hospital for advice. Tell the veterinarian what type of chocolate your dog ate and approximately how much they consumed. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is—baking and dark chocolate have the highest levels of theobromine, while milk and white chocolate have the lowest. Depending on how much theobromine your pooch may have consumed, the veterinarian may induce vomiting, prescribe medications, or administer doses of activated charcoal to eliminate toxins.

If your dog has eaten chocolate, call the veterinarians at Ohana Veterinary Hospital in Honolulu, HI. For over 20 years, this family-owned animal hospital has helped pet owners across Oahu care for their furry friends. Their experienced team treats their patients with warmth and compassion, and they offer vaccinations, nutritional counseling, and after-hours emergency care. View their services online, or call (808) 845-1762 for immediate assistance.