Chocolate contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. While the amounts necessary to poison your dog vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that causes the danger to pets.
Check out my handy choco-chart, based on toxicity information from Dog Owner's Digest [1]. I've started you off with some weights and amounts – print this out, calculate your pup's weight, fill in the blanks, and store in a safe place.
| Type of chocolate | 1 pound dog | 10 pound dog | 20 pound dog | 40 pound dog | ______ pound dog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Chocolate | 200 ounces | 125 pounds | 250 pounds | 500 pounds | ______ pounds |
| Milk Chocolate | 1 ounce | 1/2 pound | 1 pound | 2 pounds | ______ pounds |
| Sweet Cocoa | 0.3 ounces | 1/6 pound | 1/3 pound | 2/3 pound | ______ pounds |
| Baking Chocolate | 0.1 ounces | 1 ounces | 2 ounces | 4 ounces | ______ ounces |
The average chocolate candy bar contains 2 to 3 ounces. Dark chocolate falls closest to the baking chocolate estimations whereas semi-sweet chocolate falls in between milk chocolate and sweet cocoa.
Source [2]