Chocolate
Can dogs and cats eat dark chocolate?
Compare the dog and cat answers together, then open the full guide for the pet you are asking about.
If your pet ate this, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.
Call ASPCA: (888) 426-4435One food, two pets
What changes between dogs and cats?
Dogs and cats both have a emergency verdict.
The label matches, but the two answers are not interchangeable. Compare the bottom line below, then use the full guide for your pet.
- Bottom line differs
Dark Chocolate safety for dogs
Dark and baking chocolate pack far more theobromine per bite than milk chocolate, so any ingestion by a dog should be treated as an emergency.
Toxic principle: theobromine (highly concentrated) and caffeine
Watch for
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- hyperactivity
- elevated heart rate
- muscle tremors
- seizures
- collapse
Sources
- ASPCA: What to Do If Your Pet Gets Into Chocolate
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals
Reviewed 2026-07-12
Dark Chocolate safety for cats
Because cats are more sensitive to methylxanthines pound for pound than dogs, dark chocolate ingestion in a cat calls for immediate veterinary care.
Toxic principle: theobromine (highly concentrated) and caffeine
Watch for
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- hyperactivity
- elevated heart rate
- muscle tremors
- seizures
- collapse
Sources
- ASPCA: What to Do If Your Pet Gets Into Chocolate
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals
Reviewed 2026-07-12
This page is for informational purposes only and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your pet's diet and health.
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