Will chocolate really kill my dog?

I have always heard that any chocolate can kill your dog. I have no clue if this is true.

DOGS AND CHOCOLATE DangerGive chocolate to loved ones, and you could end up poisoning them. That is, if the loved one is your pet dog. Even small amounts of Theo bromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets. Larger doses can be fatal. While most pet owners expect a dog to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate, few realize its danger or toxic potential. The lethal dose of Theo bromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has six to nine times as much of the substance as milk chocolate does. Estimates of the smallest amounts that can be fatal are: 4 ounces of milk chocolate or 1/2 ounce of baking chocolate for small dogs, such as Chihuahuas and toy poodles. 8 ounces of milk chocolate or 2 ounces of baking chocolate for medium-sized dogs, like cocker spaniels and dachshunds. 8 ounces of milk chocolate or 4 ounces of baking chocolate for large dogs, including collies and Labrador retrievers. Cats have much different eating habits and seldom are poisoned by chocolate. While a very small amount of chocolate may not harm some dogs, it's safest to avoid giving it to them at all. If an accident occurs, a veterinarian should be consulted. Treatment may require inducing vomiting, stabilizing the animal's heartbeat and respiration, controlling seizures and slowing the absorption of Theo bromine. If the animal already is comatose, its stomach may need to be pumped. Theo bromine does not completely leave the dogs system, as do some foods, my research informs me that Theo Bromine has a half life of 17.5 hours. This means that half of it has gone in 17.5 hours; in 35 hours another half of the half that was remaining will have gone. We can go on and on forever and ever getting less and less, to be silly about it, it never gets to zero!There always has to be something left for there to be a half of something. Its like a radio wave/signal travelling into space, it will reduce by half over a given distance, it repeats this time and again, but it never gets to zero. Trying to find it after a time will be difficult then imposssible of course, as with Theo bromine.So we have a time factor to consider also apart from a safe amount. The Theo bromine in other sweets and biscuits, cakes, coated in chocolate or with chocolate chips etc. will be less of course, but its wise to avoid all these things.Health food shops stock, none chocolate choc drops for humans; I am told these are fine, but, its good practise to ask for the ingredient list to check for Theo bromine and then ask your VET. And remember ingredients can change without notice.As in all case of animal safety, I cant say this enough, ask your vet, this page is no exception, don’t take my word as being accurate. All dogs can be different, as are humans; it may be there is a dog out there that could be killed by the smallest dose of chocolate. This page does not suggest that any dose is safe, on all matters covered here; please ask your vet who is your correct authority.

Yes, depending on the amount. A small amount may make him/her sick but dog's lack the stomach acids and bacteria to break up chocolate in the digestive track.

Yes dogs have their own kind of sugar and chocolatehuman chocolate just clogs the heart and stops blood circulation for dogs

in large amounts yes but if its just a lil he ll b fine

Yes. Your dog will throw up constantly.

dont knowmy dog ate chewing gum and was ok

I was told that after my partner's dog woofled down FOUR Hershey bars that she had bought to give me. Dog never showed any ill effects - I can only think we were very lucky (?)

Can not argue with redunicom. That is correct.

You may not kill him, but it may well make him very sick. Why risk it? The worst thing is to leave (car) anti-freeze around the house though. Dogs love the taste and it WILL kill them.

no

Chocolate can kill a dog. I was told by the vet I work for that if a dog accidently gets hold of chocolate, you can figure that the amount of chocolate in 1 Hersheys Kiss per 5lbs of dog, is (I don't want to say "safe") but, will not kill a dog. But I still would not purposely feed your dog chocolate.Crystal

Chocolate will poison your dog.Also stay away from raisins they can also poison your dog.