My Dog Ate Chocolate Chip Cookies: What Should I Do?
Laura Evans |
October 31, 2022
42,781
It’s undeniable that dogs love snacking around. And as much as that’s fun for you too, some foods could make things take a drastic turn for them.
The main ingredients in chocolate chip cookies are not suitable for dogs, including chocolate, wheat flour, and sugar.
How many cookies can be harmful to a dog? What symptoms to expect if your dog eats chocolate chip cookies? What are the signs of chocolate poisoning? And what to do if your dog eats some. That’s what you’ll learn in this article.
Table of Contents
Can My Dog Eat Chocolate Chip Cookies?
Chocolate chip cookies contain chocolate, which is poisonous to dogs. Luckily, the amount of chocolate in a cookie is usually small, but if the chocolate is dark chocolate or your dog eats several cookies, they could be bad for dogs. In addition, chocolate-chip cookies can contain other ingredients that could make them worse for dogs. Added raisins, nuts, or cocoa all make them more toxic. It is not recommended that you feed your dog chocolate chip cookies, as they can be poisonous.
Why Chocolate Is Bad for Dogs
Chocolate contains chemicals called methylxanthines, specifically theobromine and caffeine. These chemicals are stimulants that can lead to cardiovascular and neurological stimulation in dogs. It can cause rapid breathing and feelings of restlessness. In fact, you may recognize these symptoms. It’s very similar to a person taking too much caffeine. A small amount of chocolate ingestion might produce only a bit of vomiting or diarrhea, but large ingestions can cause seizures and even death. Chocolate toxicity in dogs is serious.
How Many Cookies Can Be Bad For A Dog?
Depending on your dog’s weight, even small amounts of chocolate can be very bad, so one single cookie with some chocolate chips may hurt your dog.
Different types of chocolate have varying amounts of methylxanthines in them. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Use our dog chocolate toxicity calculator to work out whether your dog has eaten a potentially toxic amount. Please note symptoms typically occur between 4 and 24 hours after your dog has eaten chocolate, though assessment and treatment may be required immediately.
Signs and Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
Chocolate poisoning in dogs has clear clinical signs. If you’re unsure if your dog has gotten into chocolate, you’ll probably see obvious symptoms. Spontaneously vomiting up chocolate is a pretty tell-tale sign. Other common signs of chocolate poisoning include:
- Stage 1 : At 20+ mg of theobromine per kg of body weight, your dog may look agitated or be hyperactive. He may also drool excessively, vomit, or have diarrhea, which may smell like chocolate. Be on the safe side: call your veterinarian. He will advise whether you should perform first aid or bring him in for treatment.
- Stage 2: At 40+ mg/kg, your dog may show cardiac signs including racing heart rate, high blood pressure, or even heart arrhythmias. Get your dog to a veterinarian.
- Stage 3: At 60+ mg/kg, your dog will start to show neurologic signs, including tremors, twitching, and even seizures. Medical care is essential.
- Stage 4: At 200 mg/kg (approximately 100 mg/lb) is when death or serious complications can happen. Your dog will need to be in the hospital.
Other signs you may see at any of the stages include:
- Increased thirst
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Excessive urination
- Rapid breathing
If your dog has any of these signs or if you have any doubt, contact a Pet Poison Helpline or go to the vet immediately. Treat this like any poison. Death can be a possibility.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate Chip Cookies
Unfortunately, many dogs ingest chocolate around celebratory holidays like Christmas or Easter. This means that your regular vet might not be open. That’s just one reason why 24/7 telehealth visits for pets are such an ideal option.
An at-home care option for chocolate poisoning might be to induce vomiting (How To Make A Dog Throw Up), give multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate (Administer one to five grams of activated charcoal for each kilogram of weight of your dog), and sedatives to calm the dog.
A note of caution – if you induce vomiting at home, make sure to remove the dog from the vomit or immediately pick it up. I’ve had many dogs ingest their own vomit and be back at the same point in which they started!
No matter what, contact your vet as quickly as possible after your dog eats chocolate. The length of time since the incident and other factors that could make inducing vomiting dangerous may require an immediate visit to the vet.
Remember, with any poisoning, it’s always cheaper, less invasive, and has a better prognosis/outcome if you treat early. Once your dog has already developed clinical signs and is affected by the poison, it makes for a much more expensive veterinary visit! Ensure your pet’s well-being without compromising your financial stability – enjoy peace of mind with Lemonade’s pet insurance offering comprehensive coverage, hassle-free claim processing through their user-friendly app, and an impressive 90% reimbursement rate, providing a seamless online experience. Sign up in seconds. Get paid in minutes.
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