Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog ate chocolate. Should I call the vet or is it not an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Springer Spaniel | Male | neutered | 6 years and 9 months old | 50.7 lbs

My springer spaniel,weighing 23kg has just eaten 60g or milk chocolate Christmas coins. Should I call a vet as an emergency or can I monitor and wait?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 16th, 2018

Oh no, that was naughty of Elmo to eat that chocolate! The good news is that with his weight and the amount of chocolate he ate, you would see minimal to no reaction. There is a potential for an upset stomach and diarrhea, and if you do see that, you can withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. Otherwise, he should be fine and there is no need to call the vet as an emergency. Good luck, I hope this helps and thanks for contacting Pet Coach!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my 60 lb standard poodle ate about 6 oz of chocolate little over 5 hours ago. How long will it take to know if he's sick?
First off, thank you for providing Bravo's weight and how much chocolate he ate. The good news is that if he at 6oz of milk chocolate, at his weight that would cause minimal to no reaction. At most you may see some stomach upset, diarrhea, or agitation. If you do see any stomach upset or diarrhea, I can give you a home remedy to see if that helps him. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. Now if Bravo ate that amount of dark chocolate, it is a medical emergency and he will need to see a vet immediately. Dark chocolate is much more toxic to dogs than milk chocolate, and 6oz would cause a moderate to severe reaction. In this case, take him into a vet now.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello I came home to find that Luna had gone through some bags and she ate a regular size packet of milk chocolate mix and marshmallows, she seems to be acting normal other than panting a little bit her gums are nice and pink but her belly seems a li
Oh dear! The good news is that there is not enough chocolate (namely, the theobromine and caffeine) in one packet of milk chocolate hot cocoa mix to cause any significant issues for Luna. However, there is a chance that she might experience an upset stomach in the coming day or two, depending on what else she may have eaten. There's no need to rush to the emergency vet for this issue. Just keep an eye on her overall energy level, appetite, and the presence of any vomiting or diarrhea. I hope that everything goes well!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Dog has eaten chocolate
In order to know if Barney is in any danger we need know how much chocolate he ate, what kind (dark, milk, bakers?), and how long ago. Based on his picture, Barney is a very small dog, so if he ate more than 1.5oz of milk chocolate (and any amount of a darker chocolate) he needs to go to the vet to vomit. Give them your regular vet a call right away and see if he can go straight there or if they recommend he go to an emergency clinic. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Chocolate 12 Hours Ago?
There's not much to be done but treat the symptoms after more than 12 hours. A visit to your vet would be prudent if your dog ate a large quantity and is having tremors/twitches or an irregular/fast heartbeat. If he is acting normally otherwise, withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (boiled boneless, skinless chicken breasts and plain white rice) in small, frequent amounts. Feed until the stool is normal, then transition slowly to the regular diet. If the diarrhea doesn't resolve, see your veterinarian.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My five month old minature pinscher managed to take food out of the pantry and ate some chocolate covered peanuts last night. She hasn't vomitted but her belly is really big. What should I do?
Oh that was naughty of Francesca! It's good that she isn't vomiting, but it is concerning that her belly is really big. I'm not sure if she is still eating, drinking, going to the toilet normally, or otherwise behaving normally. Because I'm not sure of those things, I think it's best that she is seen by a vet if she is acting differently, not eating and drinking, or isn't using the toilet normally. Otherwise, I would continue to monitor her for now. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, and then feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. After that, slowly add back in her normal diet. Should she refuse to eat the bland diet, she vomiting the bland diet, she stops drinking water, she starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, I would have her seen by a vet right away.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog consumed 3 ounces of milk chocolate chip cookies he weighs about 18 pounds and he doesn't look too good he seems really tired and whining should I be concerned
Poor Charlie! With that amount of chocolate and his weight, you can expect to see a mild reaction with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, elevated heart rate, and increased urination. Now some dogs can react stronger to smaller amounts of chocolate than other dogs, and if he isn't looking good, seems very lethargic, and is whining, it's best that he's seen by a vet now to be safe. I would take him into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see him now so he can be evaluated and treated as needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Dog shredded paper towel yesterday, and was caught with wrapped chocolates. He had loose stools that day, and we fed him pumpkin to help. His stools are better today, and he ate breakfast, but this evening he ate grass and threw up three times, and i
Oh no, poor Muachacho! I would monitor him for now and try a home remedy first before having to take him into the vet. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog just ingested chocolate (a single milk chocolate ferrero rocher). We called the vet and she said he should be fine, but too watch for any vommiting or diarrhea. He ate the chocolate 7 hours ago and just vomited, but the vet is closed and we ar
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Scooter. One ferrero rocher shouldn't cause serious problems, but it can cause stomach upset. I can give you a home remedy for him to see if that helps. Withhold food tonight, then in the morning feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, he refuses to eat the bland diet, he vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog (2 years, approximately 40 lbs) ate one chocolate cupcake (or approximately .66 oz of unsweetened cocoa) about 45 minutes ago. Should I induce vomiting?
That was naughty of Rudy to eat the cupcake! The good news is that with his weight and the amount of cocoa powder he ate, there will be minimal to no reaction from it. There is no need to induce vomiting. There is a potential for an upset stomach, diarrhea, and agitation, and if you see any GI signs, withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. Otherwise, Rudy should be fine :-)
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I think my dog ate chocolate he first threw up chunks of his food (I think) early in the morning then he went diarrhea everywhere on my floor , so I left him out my room thinking he was just being bad , but then he threw up in my sisters room this wh
Poor Eli! He sounds quite ill, based on your description. Since he is having pretty severe vomiting and diarrhea, it would really be best to take him to an emergency vet today - especially if he ate some chocolate, this may be a life-threatening problem that can't wait until tomorrow.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Supplies Dog Treats & Chews Dog Health & Wellness Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Premium Dog Food Wet Dog Food Dog Medicine and Prescriptions PetAlive Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Nutri-Vet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Entyce Prescription Dog Digestive Medications JustFoodForDogs Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Lactulose Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Yummers Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Royal Canin Sensitive Stomach Dog Food MedalSeries Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Doggie Desserts
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored