My dog ate chocolate. Should I call the vet or poison control now?

Hello and welcome to PetCoach. Depending on the amount of chocolate (number of grams) as well as the weight of Caramel. For example, 10gm of dark sweet chocolate will be fine, where 30gm will produce mild signs (vomiting and diarrhea) and 50gm will cause severe signs (tremors, seizures, possible death). This is depending on the % of cocoa in the chocolate. If it is dark baking chocolate as little as 12gm can cause severe signs. You can use the link http://www.mosmanvet.com.au/Services/ChocolateToxicityCalculator/tabid/28761/Default.aspx to approximate the level of toxicity. Making your dog vomit with salt is itself very dangerous, as if the salt doesn't result in vomiting then you can end up giving your dog salt toxicity, which is very serious. Please don't give any more salt. If you can get her to a vet to induce vomiting this is best, otherwise all you can do is wait and see. If she starts having vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors or seizures then you are seeing signs of chocolate toxicity and need to see a vet ASAP. Best of luck with your little Caramel.

You can expect mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea or decreased appetite). The amount is not enough to cause serious toxicity in a 15lb dog, but you should still monitor for tremors, increased heart rate, hyperactivity or seizures. Minor GI upset can usually be managed at home with a 24 hour fast followed by a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Ideally, Mojito should be examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. Either can induce vomiting if the ingestion has happened in the last two hours, then administer activated charcoal to further inhibit absorption.

It's difficult to know how much the actual cocoa content is in this, but 2oz of dark chocolate would only be enough to cause mild signs of toxicity, which would be hyper-excitability. It's likely that this will not cause any issues at all with Henry, so I don't see the need to rush to the vet just yet. Signs of further chocolate toxicity can be vomiting, tremors and seizures. If you notice any of these signs, then it's best to take Henry to a vet for treatment/monitoring. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done at home for this. It's best to make sure he has plenty of water and that you check him every four hours for any signs of toxicity. If he is still normal after 12 hours, then I would not worry about any signs of toxicity. I hope that helps and all is well with Henry.

That's a fair amount of chocolate, and if any of those chocolates were dark chocolate, that is very concerning. Dark chocolate is the most toxic type, and takes the least amount to cause toxicity. I would take your dog into a vet immediately, as they can give her a shot to induce vomiting. They can also give her activated charcoal. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

The effects of chocolate on a pet depends on a few factors: how big the pet is, how much they ate, and how dark the chocolate is. The darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine, the ingredient that pets are sensitive to. Cocoa powder can have up to 10 percent theobromine. It's all dependent on how dark the chocolate is, where the cacao beans are grown and the brand. According to Hershey's, the theobromine content for their different types of chocolate is as follows. 1½ ounce Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar - 74 milligrams 1½ ounce Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar - 184 milligrams 1½ ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips - 165 milligrams 1½ ounce unsweetened baking chocolate - 466 milligrams 1 Hershey's Kiss - 8.2 milligrams 2 tbsp chocolate syrup - 70 milligrams Theobromine is digested and metabolized very slowly in dogs. The alkaline substance increases the heart rate and slows blood pressure. It also increases urination, causing dehydration. In addition, many digestive problems can occur. Symptoms to watch for generally occur in the first 12 hours. They include: Diarrhea Excitability Increased urination Irritability Muscle tremors Rapid pulse Restlessness Vomiting Left untreated, the dog can develop seizures and die from ingesting too much chocolate. This is where it is important to know exactly how much your dog has eaten. It's important to contact your veterinarian if your dog eats chocolate. In mild cases, you'll be advised to induce vomiting within the first two hours and then watch for signs of chocolate poisoning. If anything alarming occurs, seek veterinary care immediately. If veterinary care is necessary, charcoal is used to absorb as much theobromine as possible. The stomach may be pumped to remove additional chocolate before it digests. The heart is closely monitored and arrhythmias will be treated if they occur. IV fluids may be ordered to prevent dehydration. Seizures will be treated with medications. According to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, ingesting 20 milligrams of theobromine can cause mild poisoning. Ingesting 60 milligrams can lead to seizures. A lot of this depends on the dog's size.

Oh dear! The good news is that there is not enough chocolate (namely, the theobromine and caffeine) in one packet of milk chocolate hot cocoa mix to cause any significant issues for Luna. However, there is a chance that she might experience an upset stomach in the coming day or two, depending on what else she may have eaten. There's no need to rush to the emergency vet for this issue. Just keep an eye on her overall energy level, appetite, and the presence of any vomiting or diarrhea. I hope that everything goes well!

Poor pup! Depending on how big your dog is, it's hard to say whether toxicity from the chocolate in the medication will be a problem. As far as the laxative itself, this will probably cause diarrhea but would not be expected to cause any serious toxicity issues. The safest bet would be to have your dog seen by a vet right away, but if this isn't possible, you will need to monitor her closely for the next 24-48 hours. If you see symptoms such as tremors, seizures, or repeated episodes of vomiting, then this would be an emergency and there would be no other option except getting her to a vet immediately.