Dog Chocolate and Grape Toxicity Checker
Find out how worried to be, and what to do right now. If your dog seems unwell, call a vet first.
What did your dog eat?
Not sure? Choose the darker option to be safe.
A standard candy bar is about 1.5 oz (43 g). Guess high if unsure.
Is your dog in danger?
Enter the chocolate type, amount, and your dog's weight. If your dog seems unwell, call a vet now.
Can dogs eat grapes or raisins?
No. Grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. Not every dog gets sick, but there is no way to tell in advance which dogs will, and some react to just a few. Veterinary researchers think tartaric acid in the fruit is the likely cause, and the amount varies from fruit to fruit.
If your dog eats any grapes or raisins, contact your vet or a pet poison line right away, even if they seem fine. Vets can often prevent kidney damage by making your dog vomit and giving fluids, but it works best within a few hours.
More on the signs, treatment, and foods that hide raisins: can dogs eat grapes?
How toxic is each type of chocolate?
| Type | Toxic compounds per oz | Signs possible from about |
|---|---|---|
| White chocolate | 1.1 mg | Very unlikely to poison |
| Milk chocolate | 64 mg | 1 oz per 7 lb of body weight |
| Dark or semisweet chocolate | 160 mg | 1 oz per 18 lb of body weight |
| Baking chocolate (unsweetened) | 440 mg | 1 oz per 49 lb of body weight |
| Cocoa powder | 807 mg | 1 oz per 89 lb of body weight |
Theobromine and caffeine content from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Brands vary, so treat these as approximate.
What to do if your dog ate chocolate or grapes
- Move your dog away from any more of the food, and keep the wrapper or packaging.
- Work out roughly what type, how much, and when. A best guess is fine.
- Call your vet, an emergency vet, or a 24/7 pet poison line, even if your dog seems fine.
- Don't try to make your dog vomit at home unless a vet tells you to. Some home remedies are dangerous.
- Follow the vet's advice, and watch your dog closely for the next few days.
Keeping your dog safe
- Keep chocolate, baking supplies, and cocoa powder in closed cupboards, not on counters.
- Watch out around holidays like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, when chocolate is everywhere.
- Keep raisins, trail mix, fruit cake, and grapes out of reach, and tell guests and children not to share.
- Check labels for xylitol, a sweetener that is extremely dangerous for dogs.
Want to know your dog's ideal daily calories, treats included? Try our dog food calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat grapes?
No. Grapes, raisins, currants, and sultanas can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no amount known to be safe. Some dogs get sick after eating only a few. If your dog eats any, contact your vet, an emergency vet, or a pet poison line right away, even if they seem fine.
How much chocolate is toxic to a dog?
It depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. Signs usually start at about 20 mg of theobromine and caffeine per kg of body weight. That is roughly 1 oz of milk chocolate per 7 lb of body weight, 1 oz of dark chocolate per 18 lb, or 1 oz of baking chocolate per 48 lb. Darker chocolate and cocoa powder are far more dangerous.
What should I do if my dog ate chocolate?
Call your vet, an emergency vet, or a pet poison line straight away, and have the type of chocolate, roughly how much was eaten, when, and your dog's weight ready. Don't try to make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. Treatment works best when it starts early, before signs appear.
How long after eating chocolate will a dog get sick?
Signs usually start 6 to 12 hours after eating chocolate and can last up to 3 days in severe cases. Common signs are vomiting, diarrhea, extra thirst, restlessness, and a racing heartbeat. Shaking or seizures are an emergency.
Is white chocolate toxic to dogs?
White chocolate contains very little of the compounds that make chocolate toxic, so poisoning is very unlikely. The fat and sugar can still cause vomiting, diarrhea, or in some dogs pancreatitis, so call your vet if your dog ate a lot or seems unwell.
What other human foods are dangerous for dogs?
Xylitol (a sweetener in some sugar-free gum, candy, and peanut butter) is extremely dangerous even in small amounts. Onions, garlic, chives, macadamia nuts, alcohol, and caffeine are also toxic. If your dog eats any of these, call your vet or a pet poison line.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind Toxicosis in Dogs.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control service.
Sources last checked: . How we calculate
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