It's 11 PM on a Saturday. Your 8 kg Dachshund, Max, managed to reach a 100g bar of 70% dark chocolate from the counter. You found the wrapper and a few crumbs. He seems fine right now—tail wagging, no vomiting yet. But you know chocolate is toxic. What do you do?
The toxic component in chocolate is theobromine. Dogs metabolize it slowly (half-life 17.5 hours), so it accumulates. Dark chocolate at 70% cocoa contains approximately 700 mg theobromine per 100g. For an 8 kg dog:
Dose = 700 mg ÷ 8 kg = 87.5 mg/kg
The Chocolate Toxicity Calculator instantly performs this calculation when you enter Max's weight and the chocolate type. The result: severe toxicity range. Clinical signs are expected at 40-50 mg/kg; seizures and arrhythmias at 60+ mg/kg. At 87.5 mg/kg, Max is at significant risk.
| Theobromine Dose | Severity | Action |
|---|---|---|
| < 20 mg/kg | Minimal | Monitor at home; may induce vomiting if within 2 hours |
| 20-40 mg/kg | Mild to moderate | Veterinary evaluation; decontamination if recent |
| 40-60 mg/kg | Severe | Immediate veterinary care; expect clinical signs |
| > 60 mg/kg | Life-threatening | Emergency clinic now; anticipate seizures, arrhythmias |
The Toxicology Specialist confirms: Immediate veterinary attention recommended. Do not wait for signs—they can develop 6-12 hours post-ingestion.
Warning: At 87.5 mg/kg, Max is in the life-threatening range. Seek emergency care immediately. Decontamination is most effective within 2 hours.
0-2 hours: If ingestion was recent and the dog is asymptomatic, the vet may induce vomiting (apomorphine or hydrogen peroxide) and administer activated charcoal to bind remaining theobromine in the gut.
2-12 hours: Monitor for vomiting, restlessness, tachycardia, hyperthermia. IV fluids support renal excretion. Antiarrhythmics (e.g., lidocaine) if needed.
12-72 hours: Peak risk for seizures. Benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam) for seizure control. Continued monitoring of heart rate and rhythm.
Theobromine and caffeine are methylxanthines. They inhibit adenosine receptors, increase catecholamine release, and cause CNS stimulation, vasoconstriction, and diuresis. Dogs lack the enzyme to efficiently metabolize theobromine; their half-life is 17.5 hours versus 2-3 hours in humans. Clinical signs typically begin 4-12 hours post-ingestion and can persist 24-72 hours.
Max was taken to the emergency clinic within 45 minutes. Emesis yielded chocolate material. Activated charcoal was administered. He was hospitalized overnight for IV fluids and monitoring. He developed mild tachycardia but no seizures. Discharged the next morning with instructions to watch for delayed signs.
- Never wait for signs. By the time vomiting or tremors appear, theobromine is already absorbed.
- Use the calculator immediately. The Chocolate Toxicity Calculator gives you the dose in seconds—critical for after-hours decisions.
- Dark chocolate is far worse than milk. 70% dark has ~7x the theobromine of milk chocolate per gram.
- When in doubt, go to the emergency clinic. Decontamination is most effective within 2 hours.