What to do if your dog eats something poisonous: quick action steps
Sue Ketland, Dog behaviour and training specialist
My dog ate chocolate, what should I do?
My 2-year-old Labrador managed to eat some chocolate, and I’m really worried. I know chocolate can be dangerous for dogs, but I’m not sure what to do next. How do I know if it’s serious, and what should I tell the vet when I call? Is there anything I can do before getting to the vet to help?
What our expert says
Emily Norton
Veterinary Department Manager
If you know or suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, it’s important to contact your vet immediately for advice. Give your vet as much detail as possible, including what the product they’ve eaten is, how much they’ve eaten and when. Time is a life saver! The quicker you act, the better the chances of treatment and recovery.
If your dog eats chocolate, it’s important to know what type it is; a general rule to follow is the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it will be to your dog.
The amount of chocolate eaten compared to your dog’s size/weight is also a useful guide for vets to determine how and what treatment to give. They may use a calculator which details the severity of toxicity.
Depending on when your dog ate the chocolate, to when they arrive at the vet, they may be given an injection to induce vomiting to empty their stomach. If your vet feels the chocolate may have already left their stomach, they may give your pet a specific liquid to help bind to the chocolate in the digestive tract with the aim of reducing any toxic reactions.
At certain times of the year, like Christmas or Easter, we’re likely to have more chocolate in our homes, which our canine companions could be tempted to sniff out and eat. It’s important to be mindful of where we are keeping chocolate and make sure it’s out of reach of the dog, even when standing on their tip toes.
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