My dog ate chocolate brownies and is throwing up. Is he okay?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025