Of all candy, chocolate is one of the most toxic to pets. Over
the past year, more than 1,100 calls to Pet Poison Helpline involved exposure
to chocolate and 98 percent of them involved dogs. Many dogs are inherently
attracted to the smell and taste of chocolate, making it a significant threat.
In general, the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is.
The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, methylxanthines, are
similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties. In
fact, a 50-pound dog can be sickened by ingesting only one ounce of Baker’s
chocolate! On the other hand, it may take up to eight ounces, (half a pound) of
milk chocolate to cause poisoning in that same sized dog. White chocolate
contains very low amounts of methylxanthine and rarely causes poisoning. To
avoid issues, keep Halloween candy well out of the reach of pets at all times.
If you think your pet may have ingested chocolate, symptoms to watch for
include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated
heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures.