Is white chocolate as problematic for dogs as milk or dark chocolate?

As we head into the final months of 2024, it means that we are getting into the season of sweets and candies. And that can mean a lot more chocolate in the home. From Halloween and trick-or-treating, to Christmas treats, chocolate seems like it is a big part of the upcoming season. But we all know that this can be a problem when you have dogs in the house, especially in terms of their overall health and wellbeing.

And one thing we wanted to know was whether or not white chocolate was as problematic as milk and dark chocolates. Considering white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, and is instead a lot of sugars and fats, is this something our dog can ingest accidentally and us not worry as much.

We decided to ask some experts for their take on whether or not white chocolate was as bad for our dogs as both milk and dark chocolate and we got some interesting responses.

Is white chocolate as bad for our dogs as both milk and dark chocolate?

So what were the questions we had for the experts?

• What is the difference between white chocolate versus milk chocolate when it comes to a dog ingesting these sweets?
• What should a dog owner do if they believe their dog has eaten white chocolate?
• What are signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to negative side effects of chocolate consumption?

Now let's dive into the answers we received. First up we have Nell Ostermeier, DVM and veterinary advisor at OnePack Plan. What did she have to say about chocolate consumption in dogs?

"The biggest difference is that white chocolate does not contain any chocolate or cacao. White chocolate contains cocoa butter (the fat extracted from chocolate), sugar, and other flavoring ingredients. Milk chocolate contains at least 10% chocolate as well as sugar and other ingredients.
The concern with white chocolate is all the fat and sugar. If large amounts are ingested the high fat and sugar content could lead to a serious medical emergency called pancreatitis. If smaller amounts are ingested, it could lead to an upset tummy or no symptoms at all depending on the size of the dog. If your dog has ingested white chocolate, it is best to contact your veterinarian so they can help you determine if the amount ingested will lead to any serious concerns."

- Nell Ostermeier, DVM

Of course, the biggest thing we wanted to know was what are signs that we need to be on the lookout for when it comes to our dogs eating chocolate of any kind. And we got an answer for that as well.

"The signs of chocolate toxicity will vary based on the type (white, milk, dark, semi-sweet, or baking chocolate). Most of the time with white or milk chocolate signs of an upset tummy occur with vomiting or diarrhea from the high fat and sugar. In some cases, a large quantity of either milk or white can lead to the serious concern of pancreatitis (signs include abdominal pain, salivating, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy). With higher chocolate (cacao) concentrations in dark, semi-sweet and bakers' chocolate serious concerns can arise from the caffeine and theobromine ingested. If toxic doses are ingested, signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, increased heart rate, hyperactivity, and in severe untreated cases, death."

- Nell Ostermeier, DVM

That was not our only expert to weigh in on the white chocolate discussion. We also learned more from Dr. Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS. She broke things down for us in a way that made perfect sense and also allayed some of our fears over having white chocolate in the home, at the very least.

"The part of chocolate that is toxic to dogs is theobromine and, to a lesser extent, caffeine. Both of these are found in the cocoa solids. The more cocoa solids chocolate contains, the more poisonous it is. So white chocolate, which contains no cocoa solids, isn't poisonous to dogs. That said, it isn't good for them - it's extremely high in sugar and fat, which can set off painful pancreatitis in dogs.
Milk chocolate, on the other hand, is poisonous to dogs, but it's a dose-dependent poison. Higher-quality chocolate will have more cocoa per gram, making it more toxic. Cheap shop-bought chocolate hasn't got much cocoa and it's more likely that dogs will get away with eating a small amount of this. That said, your dog's size also comes into play - a small dog will be able to eat less chocolate before getting symptoms of toxicity.

In terms of signs, dogs with chocolate poisoning are likely to get vomiting, diarrhoea, and restlessness. You might also see them drinking and weeing more than usual. Severe chocolate toxicity causes signs like trembling, fast breathing, a fast heart rate, and even seizures. Dogs eating white chocolate are very unlikely to get these signs, but if they get pancreatitis you might see vomiting, abdominal pain, and inappetence."

- Dr. Joanna Woodnutt

Honestly, we appreciate both of these experts for explaining how white chocolate is different than other chocolates when it comes to our dogs and their health and safety. As we get deeper into the holiday season, it is important to be vigilant when it comes to the treats entering our homes, especially around Halloween.