Chocolate Is Poisonous To Dogs

The most dangerous variety of chocolate in the average household is Baker's chocolate, with 390 mg of theobromine per ounce. Semisweet chocolate used in Tollhouse cookies has 150 mg per ounce, and milk chocolate contains 44 mg per ounce.

Two one-ounce squares of Bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog. It would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10-pound dog. A mere two ounces of Baker's chocolate could put a 15-pound dog at great risk.

You have to be particularly careful with a pet that is prone to epilepsy or other health problems because theobromine can trigger seizures in dogs with a pre-existing condition.

You can recognize that your dog has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate from the symptoms. Within the first few hours the evidence includes vomiting, diarrhea or hyperactivity. As time passes and there's increased absorption of the toxic substance, you'll see an increase in the dog's heart rate, which can cause arrhythmia, restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting.