My dog ate chocolate: how dangerous it is and what to do

Theobromine acts on the heart, the nervous system and the kidneys. In humans it is cleared within a few hours, in dogs it stays in circulation much longer and builds up. The darker and more concentrated the chocolate, the more theobromine it holds per gram: this is why the same amount by weight can be harmless or serious depending on the product.

Symptoms are not immediate. They usually begin between two and four hours after ingestion and can last more than a day, because theobromine is eliminated slowly. This means two things: that no symptoms in the first hour is not reassuring, and that early action is more effective before the signs appear.

• First digestive signs: restlessness, intense thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy drooling.
• Cardiac and nervous signs that follow: marked agitation, muscle tremors, a fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Serious signs: stiffness, seizures, raised body temperature, collapse.
• In some dogs theobromine causes frequent urination and a caffeine like state of excitement.

The most useful thing is not a heroic act but gathering the right information and quickly reaching someone who can calculate the dose. The sequence below is designed to save time and avoid harm.

1. 1

   Remove the rest of the chocolate

   Secure whatever is left, so the dog cannot eat more while you manage the emergency and so you can estimate how much has gone.

2. 2

   Gather the three numbers

   Type of chocolate, grams eaten and the dog's weight. Look for the wrapper: the cocoa percentage and the weight completely change the risk estimate.

3. 3

   Note the time of ingestion

   If you did not see it eat, estimate the last time the chocolate was still in its place. The time interval guides the clinical decision.

4. 4

   Call the vet or a poison line

   Give the three numbers and the time. Whoever answers will tell you whether to bring the dog in now, whether vomiting should be induced under supervision or whether observation is enough.

5. 5

   Follow the advice and prepare transport

   If they tell you to come in, set off with the wrapper. Watch the dog on the way and report any change.

Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety and helps you cooperate. Treatment depends on the estimated dose, the time elapsed and the signs present, and it is never a single rigid protocol.

• If ingestion is recent and the dose is significant, the vet may induce vomiting to reduce the amount absorbed.
• Activated charcoal is often given, sometimes in several doses, because theobromine is reabsorbed and charcoal interrupts the cycle.
• In cases with cardiac or nervous signs, fluids, heart monitoring and targeted drugs to control tremors and arrhythmias are added.
• Observation can last several hours or a whole day, because theobromine clears slowly and symptoms can appear late.

The outlook in the large majority of cases treated in time is good. Serious cases almost always involve small dogs that eat highly concentrated chocolate, or situations where the ingestion went unnoticed for many hours. It is precisely to avoid these situations that it is worth acting straight away rather than waiting.

Most chocolate poisonings happen at home on a few recurring occasions: parties, gifts under the tree, a bag left on the floor, sweets on the table. These are predictable situations, and therefore preventable.

1. Keep chocolate, cocoa and baked goods in closed cupboards or up high, never on tables or shelves reachable with a jump.
2. Pay particular attention at Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day, when more chocolate than usual circulates, often wrapped and scented.
3. Warn guests and children not to leave sweets in bags, pockets or backpacks on the floor: they are the most common target.
4. Never use chocolate as a treat or a joke, and do not leave it unattended even for a few minutes.
5. Keep the number of your vet and an animal poison line handy, so you are not searching for it at the wrong moment.