- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
You might enjoy white chocolate, but you won’t want to share this treat with your dog! Vets say dogs shouldn’t eat white chocolate.
That said, white chocolate isn’t toxic to dogs like milk or dark chocolate, according to Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS, a veterinarian at Petlearnia.
White chocolate contains little to no cocoa solids, and it’s the cocoa that contains toxins for dogs. White chocolate is high in sugar and fat, however, and both of these ingredients can harm your dog’s health.
Read on to get more details on why dogs shouldn’t eat white chocolate, signs of chocolate toxicity, and safer treats for your dog.
Why Is White Chocolate Bad For Dogs?
Chocolates with cocoa solids contain theobromine and caffeine, both toxic ingredients to dogs. But white chocolate doesn’t usually contain much, if any, of these two ingredients, according to Dr. Woodnutt and Dr. Brett Levitzke, DVM, Chief Medical Officer at Get Joy.
That said, white chocolate is very high in sugar and has no nutritional value, Dr. Woodnutt says. White chocolate also contains a lot of fat, and high levels of fat in your dog’s diet can also lead to pancreatitis, a painful medication condition that can result in hospitalization.
Some types of white chocolate may also contain toxic added ingredients, like xylitol, alcohol, or raisins.
Can dogs have a little bit of white chocolate?
If you accidentally drop a small piece of white chocolate and your dog eats it, you generally don’t need to worry. A small amount is unlikely to cause pancreatitis or other health issues.
You’ll want to monitor your dog for any concerning symptoms, like stomach upset or panting. If they’ve eaten a lot of white chocolate, you’ll want to contact your vet so they can offer more guidance on next steps and signs to pay attention to.
Important: Check the ingredients list to make sure the white chocolate doesn’t contain any alcohol or xylitol. If it has either of these ingredients, you’ll want to call your vet and get emergency medical treatment right away.
And again, even though a small amount of white chocolate is usually harmless, it’s not a good idea to intentionally feed it to your dog, Dr. Woodnutt says.
7 Signs Of White Chocolate Poisoning
“Chocolate toxicity signs in dogs are related to the amount of theobromine in the chocolate,” Dr. Levitzke says.
White chocolate contains extremely small amounts of theobromine compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or baker’s chocolate, so they probably won’t experience any negative reactions, he adds.
However, there’s a chance your dog may experience some of these symptoms:
In some cases, chocolate poisoning may cause death.
What if my dog is fine after eating chocolate?
“If your dog eats white chocolate and has no symptoms, they’re likely going to be okay,” Dr. Levitzke says. “However, you should always talk to a vet or a pet poison hotline if you’re concerned or unsure.”
If needed, you can reach the Pet Poison Helpline 24/7 at 855-764-7661.
How Do Vets Treat White Chocolate Poisoning?
Signs of chocolate toxicity usually begin within 6 to 12 hours after a dog eats chocolate. If you notice any symptoms, contact your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline so they can give you guidance on the best next steps.
According to Dr. Levitzke, white chocolate takes 12 to 24 hours to metabolize and leave your dog’s system. If your dog hasn’t shown any symptoms by that point, they should be just fine.
They’ll generally only need treatment if they ate a lot of white chocolate.
Veterinary treatment
Dr. Antje Joslin, veterinarian and owner of Tolleson Animal Clinic, says a vet may induce vomiting if your dog consumed white chocolate in the last hour or two.
Your vet may treat other signs of illness symptomatically. For example, if your dog experiences vomiting or diarrhea, they may offer fluids, anti-nausea medications, and probiotics to restore gut health, Dr. Levitzke says.
At-home remedies
Dr. Joslin says the best course of action is prevention. Of course, it’s not always possible to keep your dog from grabbing a bite that falls to the floor. But again, if your dog does eat white chocolate, you generally don’t need to worry about trying any home remedies, since they’ll likely be just fine.
Just pay close attention to make sure they don’t experience any signs of chocolate poisoning, and if you notice any unusual or concerning behaviors, contact your vet right away.
How To Prevent Dogs From Eating White Chocolate
“The best way you can prevent your dog from eating unwanted substances is to keep them in a secure location, out of reach, or not in the home,” Dr. Joslin says.
If you have kids at home, Dr. Joslin recommends making sure they don’t keep food or candy in their rooms.
You can also protect your dog by keeping them in a safe and secure area whenever you leave them home alone. That way, you’ll know they can’t eat any white chocolate or other substances that could harm them.
Alternatives to white chocolate
Dr. Woodnutt says dogs don’t get the same pleasant reaction to sugar as humans do. If you want to give your dog an occasional treat, you might offer a bit of cooked chicken or steak instead.
You can also give your dog small amounts of fruit as a treat, Dr. Joslin says. Safe alternatives include:
- Blueberries
- Apples without seeds
- Frozen or canned pumpkin (without added sugars)
- Banana
