Is Chocolate More Dangerous to Small Dog Breeds?

The evidence has been established when it comes to Chocolate and Your Dog: Fact or Conspiracy. There is no conspiracy, chocolate is toxic to all dog breeds, but the level of toxicity depends on a few factors. The type of chocolate ingested, the size and weight of the dog, and the metabolic rate by which the dog processes food. But the question still stands, is chocolate more dangerous to small dog breeds?

Before we address if chocolate is more dangerous to small dog breeds, we must explain how and why chocolate, and the type of chocolate, are toxic to dogs in general. Chocolate has two compounds, theobromine, and caffeine. These compounds are used medicinally in humans as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and smooth muscle relaxant. In dogs, they have the same reaction. Humans can metabolize these compounds without issue, but dogs can not. Because dogs can not metabolize these compounds as efficiently as humans the overdose rate is triggered with small amounts of chocolate. Where a human can consume these compounds in chocolate, without signs or symptoms, dogs will have adverse effects similar to a person that is over-caffeinated.

Now that you know why chocolate can be toxic to all dog breeds, let’s focus on the factors contributing to the danger. As discussed in the introductory paragraph the type of chocolate ingested, the height and weight of the dog, and the metabolic rate by which the dog processes food, all contribute to how chocolate might affect your dog. The type of chocolate is important because each type holds a different amount of the chemical theobromine and caffeine. Theobromine mg content per ounce of chocolate is approximated as such.

Average Amounts of Theobromine in Chocolate

• Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.

• Semisweet chocolate chips contain 150 mg/oz.

• Baking chocolate contains 390 mg/oz.

• White Chocolate contains 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate.

The next factor differentiating the dangers of chocolate compared to the big dog breeds and smaller dog breeds are size, weight, and metabolism. Large dog breeds have a faster metabolism than smaller dog breeds. This is because the larger body size requires higher energy demands. An active, working dog, with a fast metabolism like a labrador retriever, would metabolize the theobromine and caffeine faster than another dog at a comparable size and weight. Likewise, if you have a small dog breed with a fast metabolism, the effect of the chocolate might not be as noticeable as a similar size and weight small dog breed with a slower metabolism. So the idea that chocolate is more dangerous to small dog breeds is relative to different factors. If a large dog breed was given the same type and amount of chocolate as a small dog breed, the toxicity leaves could be higher in the smaller dog.

The type of chocolate and the amount of theobromine and caffeine ingested, coupled with the height and weight of the dog, as compared with your dog's metabolic rate, all play key roles in chocolate toxicity. So is chocolate more dangerous to small dog breeds, yes and no? No two toxicity situations will be the same, but chances are, if a small dog breed consumes the same amount of chocolate as a larger dog breed, the symptoms and severity could be worse for the smaller dog. The key takeaway is this: keep chocolate away from your dog, regardless of the breed, or size. To gauge a toxicity probability in your dog try one of the many Chocolate Toxicity Calculators available online. But if you think your dog may have consumed chocolate, always contact your veterinarian. The sooner the better.