does chocolate really kill dogs?

Question

my boyfriend got on to me for giving his dog chocolate he says it kills them?

Answer 1

Your dog won't die if you give him one M&M.

However, chocolate contains the chemical theobromine that can be toxic to dogs.
It takes about 100-150 mg/kg of theobromine to cause a toxic reaction, but it depends on the size of the dog, their sensitivity, age, breed, ect.
Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per ounce, semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/ounce, and Baker's chocolate contains 390mg/oz.


Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.


So:
White chocolate: 200 ounces per pound of body weight. It takes 250 pounds of white chocolate to cause signs of poisoning in a 20-pound dog, 125 pounds for a 10-pound dog.
Milk chocolate: 1 ounce per pound of body weight. Approximately one pound of milk chocolate is poisonous to a 20-pound dog; one-half pound for a 10-pound dog. The average chocolate bar contains 2 to 3 ounces of milk chocolate. It would take 2-3 candy bars to poison a 10 pound dog. Semi-sweet chocolate has a similar toxic level.
Sweet cocoa: 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight. One-third of a pound of sweet cocoa is toxic to a 20-pound dog; 1/6 pound for a 10-pound dog.
Baking chocolate: 0.1 ounce per pound body weight. Two one-ounce squares of bakers' chocolate is toxic to a 20-pound dog; one ounce for a 10-pound dog.

Answer 2

IT is hard for a dogs digestive system! Yes it hurts them. It contains Theobromine which dogs cannot digest and it causes liver failure. Type of chocolate matters. Milk chocolate is not as bad as dark chocolate and bakers chocolate (not sweet) is the worst. Size matters too. Big dogs can eat small amounts of milk and dark without problems. Little dogs have more problems with these and Bakers chocolate can kill them all with only a small amount. You also look at other foods at this website such as no onions either and etc.. http://www.housepetmagazine.com/article1_housepetmagazine_noonions.htm

Answer 3

It is supposedly absolutely true, and I know people whose dogs died after some, so definately don't give to your dog. Plus is bad for their teeth, although breeds vary in their tendency to tooth decay. Your dog will respond equally well to something good, like a C.E.T chew, or at least Milkbones, or the like. Ditch the chocolate.

But once I had a food fanatic canine that ate everything, and she downed an entire 2# box of Fannie May chocolates. We watched her closely, and nothing whatsoever happened. Over the next few days she pooped out the foil wrappers, that's all. Go figure. That was dumb luck & still doesn't make me give dogs chocolate, so don't you either.

Answer 4

Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Whether it kills the dog or just makes it sick depends on the size of the dog, how much chocolate was ingested, and what type of chocolate was consumed. Milk chocolate is less toxic than semi-sweet. It's best to keep all chocolate away from your dog.

Answer 5

Chocolate has a culmination effect in dogs; it can build up in their system, and will eventually kill them. Of course, a lot of chocolate (depends on the size of the dog) will kill a dog pretty immediately.

Answer 6

Enough of it can kill a dog, it depends on the size of the dog, too. But chocolate reacts with the nervous system and can cause seizures and stuff along those lines. My mom's dog found a little piece of chocolate on the ground, and it made him reallly sick. I've heard that grapes are really bad for dogs too, but I don't really know much on that one.

Answer 7

The dog has to be allergic to the chocolate. But Semi-Sweet can kill them. Normal just regular kinda chocolate wont kill them. They can have some, just not alot.

Answer 8

Yes it can kill them. Some dogs are more sensitive to it and even small amounts could kill them. The worst is pure cocoa, then dark chocolate, then milk chocolate.

Answer 9

A decent amount of pure chocolate is dangerous. But the average milk chocolate is a very thinned version of true chocolate. A little bit isn't going to hurt. Just don't feed him a whole box of chocolates and you'll be fine ;).

Answer 10

My first dog got into a box of chocolates and ate half of it before we could stop him. He did not get sick. I know that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but don't know how much. I don't want to take any chances so I just never give any of my dogs chocolate - ever.

Answer 11

Too much will harm them severly. However, WHITE Chocolate is NOT harmful to dogs. I swear, it's true. White chocolate does not have the ingredient found in milk chocolate thats hurts them. Wanna feed 'em chocolate? Then use white chocolate.