Canine Milk Chocolate Poisoning Effects

Serious milk chocolate poisoning shows up as agitation, elevated heart rate, muscle tremors, or continuous vomiting. Your dog may develop an irregular heartbeat, have trouble walking, or show signs of stomach discomfort.

Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435. Overview. One of the most common toxicities in dogs is caused by chocolate ingestion. Dogs cannot metabolize chocolate in the same way people can, so keeping chocolate or products containing...

Cocoa beans have the most theobromine, followed by unsweetened cocoa powder, then, in order from most to least, baked unsweetened dark/baking chocolate, semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate with the least theobromine.

Chocolate poisoning statistics. In the 2017 annual report of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), chocolate ranked as the third most common agent of toxicity that pet owners report to the organisation. There were over 600 chocolate toxicity incidents recorded in total.

| Chocolate toxicosis in animals may result in potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and CNS dysfunction. Chocolate poisoning occurs most commonly in dogs, although many species are susceptible.

Risks are higher for chocolate with high cocoa levels and when body weight is lower. For supermarket products, around 90g dark chocolate can kill a 5kg dog, or 200g of milk chocolate. The toxic amount will be lower for high-quality products like Lindt, Haighs or Ghirardelli.