What are some of the negative side effects your dog might experience from eating chocolate?

With Halloween and the holidays fast approaching, there are going to be some products coming into our homes that might be a temptation for our pups. We all know that chocolate is bad for dogs, but do you know why?

One thing we wanted to know as we head into a season where chocolates seem to be popping up everywhere is what are some of the negative side effects that we might see if our dog eats chocolate. Specifically, we reached out to some experts to get the answer to the question: What are signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to negative side effects and of chocolate consumption?

Thanks to Dr. Nell Ostermeier, DVM and veterinary advisor at OnePack Plan, we have the answer. She not only broke down some of the signs and negative side effects we need to be aware of, but she also gave us insight into what to do as well.

What are some of the negative side effects of chocolate consumption on dogs?

Obviously the severity of eating chocolate will be different based on factors such as how much was consumed and even which type of chocolate it is. So what exactly did Dr. Ostermeier have to say?

"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."

- Dr. Nell Ostermeier

That's not all she shared, as Dr. Ostermeier also pointed out that not every chocolate label is going to make sense and that there can be some confusion related to different chocolates. Of course, she also reminded pet parents that your veterinarian is your best source of information related to your dog and their health.

"Chocolate labels can be confusing and often hard to determine what ingredients are toxic or how much could cause toxicity in your dog. Toxic levels are based on the type of chocolate ingested, amount, and weight of your dog. Since there are so many factors to consider it is best to contact your veterinarian and let them know what your dog has ingested. Your veterinarian will be your best source to determine what course of action is needed for what your dog ate. If possible, have the label available so all the ingredients and concentration of each is known. If your dog ingests chocolate outside of your veterinarian’s office hours, you should contact a local emergency clinic or the animal poison control hotline."

- Dr. Nell Ostermeier

Honestly, we are always worried about what will happen if our dog gets into chocolate in our home. So we appreciate Dr. Ostermeier taking the time to really break things down for us.