Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog ate chocolate frosting. Should I take him to the vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Labrador | Male | neutered

My 100 lbs lab ate 16 ounces of chocolate frosting.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 2nd, 2020

I am assuming it was milk chocolate frosting - if so you might see vomiting and diarrhea, and it would be best to see a veterinarian to induce vomiting if it happened in the past couple of hours. If it has been longer you can probably monitor for any vomiting and diarrhea and see a veterinarian if they occur.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Christie Long, DVM
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on April 3rd, 2017
It's impossible how much chocolate was in the frosting without knowing a bit more about it - the brand, perhaps, and the variety (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, etc) but in general products like this don't tend to have a lot of actual chocolate in them. However, there is a considerable amount of fat in a pound of frosting and chocolate or not I would be worried that Emma could have a pretty bad case of dietary gastroenteritis (inflammation of the GI tract due to ingestion of difficult to digest foods) or even - more seriously - pancreatitis, which can be initiated by eating foods high in fats. As she's showing symptoms - the vomiting you mentioned - I would be worried about her, and I would take her in right now for some treatment. Bring the container of frosting with you so that the vet might be able to call ASPCA's poison control to understand the amount of chocolate ingested. If the chocolate isn't concerning Emma would probably benefit from from some fluids and anti-nausea drugs.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog ate white fudge. Should I be worried or go to the vet?

The fudge may cause some gastrointestinal upset so monitor him for any vomiting and diarrhea. You could feed a bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice if you notice any GI signs. If he experiences any lethargy or persistent vomiting and diarrhea, then he should be examined by your vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate chocolate Ex-Lax, no vet or peroxide. What should I do right now?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My Labrador ate chocolate brownies and has diarrhea. Is he okay?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oliver. Since he is a large breed dogs and he ate brownies instead of pure chocolate, the risk of chocolate toxicity is less. However, high fat and high sugar foods can trigger pancreatitis. This is potentially serious condition that results in significant vomiting and diarrhea. He will need to see his veterinarian if his diarrhea worsens or he develops vomiting. In the meantime, I would withhold his dinner tonight in an effort to rest his gastrointestinal. Be sure to offer plenty of water so that he does not become dehydrated. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Dog ate cake with chocolate spread. Will he be sick? What to expect?

How naughty of Kiba! The toxicity from chocolate ingestion varies widely based upon the type of chocolate, amount consumed, and Kiba's body weight. For example, a 15 pound dog that ate 0.5 oz. of baker's chocolate could experience significant elevations in his heart rate and arrhythmias, whereas a 15 pound dog that ate 0.5 oz. of milk chocolate would be unlikely to have any issues. Chocolate ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, arrhythmias, seizures, and even death in severe cases. Try to determine the type and amount of chocolate used in the frosting to determine if a chocolate toxicity is possible. Feel free to request a consultation or post another question for a more specific answer. There is a chance that Kiba could experience some gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea, as a result of eating the cake. Consider feeding him a bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice for the next few days while monitoring him for changes. After a few days, gradually transition him back to his normal diet while mixing the foods together.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My dog ate chocolate, won't eat/drink, not vomiting. What should I do?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy ate chocolate cookies, now vomiting & red poop. Vet?

I doubt the number of chocolate chips in 1-2 chocolate chip cookies would be enough to cause chocolate toxicity, however any rich food can potentially trigger vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. If he seems otherwise fine you can monitor him during the day: I would only allow him to drink small amounts of water at a time and would not recommend feeding until this evening. If he vomits again, or if he has more diarrhea that has a red tinge to it I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog ate Nutella and maple syrup. Should I take him to the vet?

Nutella can be toxic not because of the amount of chocolate (which is known to be minimal) but for the fat content (the same for maple syrup). Toxicity would depend on his size/weight and amount ingested. Gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhoea will probably occur but you should not notice anything else if the quantity ingested is minimal (please give us more indications about it). As a general approach I would recommend close monitoring and withhold food for the next 12 hours. Start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if you notice diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy or inappetence or any other sign you may be worried about. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share