When it comes to dog food, there are many kinds. You can consider canned, packed products available on the market like high-calorie dog food, low-protein dog food or allow your dog to consume human food like beans or green peppers even chocolate.
Most of the chocolate battles you’ll hear about are whether white chocolate is ‘real chocolate’ or not. Both white, milk and dark chocolate lovers will protect the chocolate they so love.
However, when we come to dogs, the question becomes: Can dogs eat white chocolate?
To get to the bottom of this, let us start by looking at chocolate in general.

No, Dogs should never eat any form of chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to dogs.
Why Is Chocolate Toxic to Dogs?

There is a general message out there that chocolate is toxic to dogs. However, then what makes it dangerous for dogs yet humans would do anything for chocolate?
Well, chocolate contains a particular toxin called theobromine which is a stimulant, much like the caffeine found in coffee. It is located in human medicine and gets used as a blood vessel dilator, heart diuretic as well as a relaxant for smooth muscle.
Dogs are not able to digest or process theobromine the way we humans do, which makes it dangerous to them. Symptoms of theobromine toxicity include:
- Increased heart rate
- Visible muscle tremors and twitching
- High blood pressure
- Hyperactivity or agitation
- Seizures
- Vomiting, drooling or even diarrhea
Related Post: Can dogs eat Oreo Cookies?
So, What Amount of Theobromine Is Contained In The Different Types of Chocolate?
- Milk chocolate contains 44mg per ounce
- Semisweet chocolate contains 150mg per ounce
- Baking chocolate contains 390mg per ounce
Dogs will react differently depending on the amount of theobromine consumed. It takes about 9mg of theobromine per pound for mild signs to set in and up to 18mg per pound for the severe symptoms to kick in. Fatalities will happen once this amount reaches 100mg per pound.
Related Topic: Can dogs eat milk chocolate?
If your dog has just eaten the chocolate, you should consider inducing vomiting. Otherwise, you will have to take your puppy to the vet for further assistance.
The table below is from North Windham Veterinary Hospital and shows the number of ounces of chocolate that a pet would need to ingest for toxicity.

How About White Chocolate? Is It Toxic To Dogs?
- White chocolate contains 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce or chocolate. This amount is meager and means that an averaged sized dog will have to consume considerable amounts to display any signs of toxicity.
- Therefore, we can confidently say that in moderate amount, your furry friend will not suffer from theobromine toxicity. However, there is something else that might affect it.
Are There Any Other Effects If My Dog Eats White Chocolate?
Now that we have ruled out theobromine toxicity, that should not be a big worry. However, white chocolate contains high levels of fat. If your dog takes a lot of it, they might experience stomach upset and end up vomiting or even having diarrhea.
Pancreatitis is another possible condition. This occurs when the pancreas of the animal becomes inflamed with much pain if it has consumed a lot of fat. You should know that pancreatitis can be fatal if it does not get treated medically. The symptoms include:
- Sharp abdominal pain. Your dog might walk with a hunched back or might not let you touch them
- Restlessness because of the pain
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heavy breathing or panting
In many cases, treatment for pancreatitis includes pain control, fluid therapy and not giving food by mouth only until the pancreas gets less inflamed.
Dogs that have experienced pancreatitis once are likely to undergo the same effects again if they consume any small amount of fat. Therefore, it is essential for you to maintain a low-fat diet for the rest of the dog’s life.
You might also like this:Can Dogs Eat N utella?
Do I Need To Call My Vet If My Dog Has Eaten White Chocolate?
The simple answer is yes. While it might not necessarily be about the theobromine, the fat present in white chocolate could lead to stomach upsets or even pancreatitis. It is also possible for your veterinarian to induce vomiting if they determine your dog has eaten sufficient amounts.
Therefore, What Can I Feed My Dog Instead Of White Chocolate?
Apple Slices:
Apple slices are a superb option because they can help clean any residue from your dog’s teeth. This will result in fresher breath. Apples are fibrous fruits meaning your dog will have improved bowel movement.
These fruits also contain both Vitamins A and C. Just remember to take off the core and seeds before feeding your doggie.
You can buy apple wrapped chicken dog treats from Loving Pets on Amazon now.
Yogurt:
Surprisingly enough yogurt offer lots of benefits to your dog. They are high in calcium and protein meaning they can help in strengthening the teeth and bones of your canine companion. Additionally, they contain active bacteria which are essential in the digestive system. Again, with yogurts, don’t choose the ones with added sugars and artificial sweeteners.
You can grab dog treats from Vitakraft yogurt dog treats from Amazon.
In Conclusion:
Therefore, we hope that the question of “Can dogs eat white chocolate?” has now been settled once and for all. Remember that you should not expose your dog to any artificial sweeteners and fats.
You should opt for their regular diet, but also consider the alternative solutions which we have suggested to give your dog a little more variety.
I hope I’ve answered the question, “Can dogs eat white chocolate?” to your satisfaction. Please leave a comment or question below. I look forward to responding to your comments. Don’t forget to share the article with your friends and loved ones too.