If your dog eats chocolate, you should take the following steps immediately:
- Contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet right away. Provide details about how much chocolate your dog ate, what type it was, and your dog's weight to help assess the risk
- Save any chocolate wrappers or remains and bring them with you to the vet, as this information helps determine the severity of poisoning
- Do not try to make your dog vomit at home; vomiting should only be induced by a veterinarian in a controlled environment
- The vet may induce vomiting, perform stomach lavage, and administer activated charcoal to absorb remaining toxins (theobromine and caffeine)
- Treatment may also include intravenous fluids, medications to control heart rate, seizures, tremors, and other symptoms depending on severity
- Watch for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, restlessness, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, coma
- The prognosis depends on the amount and type of chocolate ingested, the dog's size, and how quickly treatment is started. Prompt veterinary care improves outcomes significantly
Chocolate toxicity is serious because dogs metabolize theobromine and caffeine much more slowly than humans, leading to toxic buildup that affects the heart, nervous system, and kidneys
. In summary, immediate veterinary consultation is critical if your dog eats chocolate. Do not attempt home remedies; rely on professional treatment to manage chocolate poisoning safely and effectively
