Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

Chocolate is present in many of our lives in the forms of ice cream, baked goods, drinks, candy, and cooking ingredients. Often, our pets tend to like chocolate as much as we do! However, for dogs and cats, this can be very dangerous.

Chocolate contains two methylxanthine compounds; theobromine and caffeine. Caffeine is also present in teas, soft and energy drinks, and some human medications, but our pets tend not to be drawn to those products as much as they are to chocolate. The primary source of chocolate comes from cacao beans. Through various growing conditions, strains of plant, and processing techniques, we get chocolate products containing varying degrees of methylxanthines. For example, unsweetened baking chocolate will have a much higher content of methylxanthines than milk chocolate. White chocolate has virtually no methylxanthines but can be a problem because of the fat content if a pet ingests it.

The initial signs of chocolate toxicity will include vomiting, diarrhea, increased drinking, and restlessness. These typically occur within a few hours of ingestion. Then, hyperexcitability, agitation and tremors may develop. As the toxicosis progresses, fast heart rates, arrhythmias, and seizures can occur. Very high doses can cause problems with blood pressure, induce coma, or may even be fatal. In addition to the caffeine and theobromine, many chocolate products will contain high amounts of fats and/or sugars, which can also cause pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and can be very serious.

It can take up to four days for the effects of chocolate to work its way out of our pet’s system. If it was ingested recently, vomiting can be induced in attempts to decontaminate the pet before the ingredients have a chance to be absorbed and cause toxicity. Following the induction of vomiting, activated charcoal can be administered orally to help bind the remaining chocolate to help prevent absorption as it moves through the digestive tract. If vomiting is not successful in removing the bulk of the chocolate product, or if the amount of toxic ingredients is very high, additional treatment is often required. This may include supportive care for any continued vomiting/diarrhea, sedation for tremors, medication for cardiac arrhythmias and even hospitalization for intravenous care depending on the severity of the toxicity.

While both cats and dogs are susceptible to chocolate toxicity, it is less common in cats overall as they tend not to like the taste of chocolate as much as dogs do. However, it is important to note that cats are actually more sensitive to these toxins. It takes less chocolate to affect a cat than a dog of the same size.

Due to the variety of these products, call your veterinarian or a poison control hotline if your pet eats any. Based on the weight of your pet, the type of chocolate, and the amount, the toxicity threat can be determined and treatment can be recommended. Sometimes, vomiting can be induced at home and no further intervention is needed. However, because even a small amount of chocolate can be extremely toxic depending on the type of chocolate, it is important to connect with a professional.

Here are two hotlines that can help for chocolate and other toxin exposure. Please note that a fee is incurred for these services:  

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 888-426-4435. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

If your pet has a HomeAgain Microchip, the service fee is waived when calling the ASPCA hotline.