What to do right now
Move the chocolate away
Take away any remaining chocolate so your dog can't eat more. Keep the wrapper or packet — the type and cocoa percentage help your vet judge the risk.
Note the key facts
Quickly work out: what type (dark, cooking, milk, white, cocoa powder), roughly how much, when it was eaten, and your dog's weight.
Call your vet immediately
Phone your own veterinarian or your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and share those facts. Do this even if your dog looks normal — signs can take hours to appear, and it's far easier to treat early. Keep your vet's number saved in your phone before you ever need it.
Follow their instructions exactly
If they ask you to come in, go straight away. Bring the wrapper. If safe vomiting is needed, only a vet should do it — the right way, at the right time.
What not to do
Don't wait to see if symptoms appear. By the time a dog looks unwell, the theobromine is already working — waiting makes treatment harder.
Don't make your dog vomit at home unless a vet tells you to. Salt, mustard and other home tricks can cause serious harm on their own.
Don't give milk, food or human medicines. None of these neutralise chocolate, and some medicines are dangerous for dogs.
Don't assume "it was only a little." A small amount of dark or cooking chocolate can be dangerous, especially for a small dog.
Go to an emergency vet immediately if you see
These mean the chocolate is affecting your dog's system. Treat it as a life-threatening emergency and get to a clinic without delay.
Why chocolate is dangerous for dogs
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Humans break these down quickly; dogs clear them very slowly, so they build up and affect the heart, muscles and nervous system. How dangerous a mouthful is depends on three things: the type of chocolate, the amount eaten, and your dog's size.
However much or whatever type — the safe move is always to call your vet with the details rather than judge it yourself.
- Type of chocolate (check the wrapper)
- Roughly how much was eaten
- When it happened
- Your dog's weight
- Any symptoms so far
- Any existing health conditions
Watch especially around festivals — Diwali, Christmas and Raksha Bandhan gift boxes and mithai often contain chocolate left within a dog's reach. Cooking and baking chocolate and cocoa used at home are the most dangerous kinds. Keep boxes off low tables and counters, and brief guests and children not to share sweets with the dog.
Related
Emergency pages are reviewed at least every 6 months. Sample reviewer shown for layout.
This page is educational and helps you act fast in an emergency. It does not replace a veterinarian, who can assess your specific dog. When in doubt, always call your vet.