🍫 Dog Chocolate Toxicity Calculator
Enter the type of chocolate, how much your dog ate and its weight to estimate the theobromine dose and see the risk level — then call your vet.
Low risk
Estimated dose: 10.3 mg/kg of theobromine (103 mg total).
Below the ~20 mg/kg level where signs usually begin. Watch for vomiting or restlessness and keep water available — but still call your vet if you're worried or the dog is small.
Theobromine (plus some caffeine) is what makes chocolate toxic to dogs; they metabolise it far more slowly than people. Dose is estimated from typical theobromine content per gram (Merck Veterinary Manual / Pet Poison Helpline) and banded by the usual thresholds — signs from ~20 mg/kg, serious effects ~40–60 mg/kg, potentially fatal ~100+ mg/kg. 🔒 In your browser.
How the dog chocolate toxicity calculator works
Chocolate is toxic to dogs because of theobromine (and some caffeine), which they break down far more slowly than people do. The calculator multiplies a typical theobromine content for the chocolate type (white, milk, dark, baking, cocoa powder) by the amount eaten, divides by your dog's body weight to get a dose in mg per kg, and compares it to published veterinary thresholds: signs usually begin around 20 mg/kg, serious cardiac and neurological effects around 40–60 mg/kg, and doses over about 100 mg/kg can be fatal.
This is an estimate only — real theobromine content varies between products and individual dogs react differently, so a "low risk" result does not mean it's safe to wait. If your dog has eaten any chocolate, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away (US ASPCA Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435; UK Animal PoisonLine 01202 509000). The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.
Frequently asked questions
How much chocolate is toxic to a dog?
It depends on the chocolate and the dog's weight. Signs typically begin around 20 mg/kg of theobromine — roughly 3.5 g of milk chocolate or 0.5 g of baking chocolate per kg of body weight. Darker chocolate is far more dangerous, and doses over ~100 mg/kg can be fatal. Enter your details for an estimate.
Which chocolate is most dangerous for dogs?
Baking (unsweetened) chocolate and cocoa powder have the most theobromine, then dark/semisweet, then milk chocolate. White chocolate has almost none, so it rarely causes theobromine poisoning — though its fat and sugar can still upset a dog's stomach.
My dog ate chocolate — what should I do?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately, even if this tool shows low risk. Have the chocolate type, amount and your dog's weight ready. Don't try to make the dog vomit unless a professional tells you to. This calculator is a guide, not a diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs?
Vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, excessive thirst and urination, a racing or irregular heartbeat, tremors and, at high doses, seizures. Signs can take 6–12 hours to appear and last for days because theobromine clears slowly.
Is white chocolate safe for dogs?
It has almost no theobromine, so theobromine poisoning is unlikely, but it's not "safe" — the high fat and sugar can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or even pancreatitis. It's best to keep all chocolate away from dogs.
How long does theobromine stay in a dog?
Theobromine has a long half-life in dogs (around 17.5 hours), so it accumulates and effects can persist for 24–72 hours. That slow clearance is exactly why even moderate amounts are risky and why prompt veterinary care matters.