Dogs are like children in being greedy; they usually come over to sniff when their owners are eating. Some dogs even look at their owners with pitiful eyes, and pet owners sometimes spoil their dogs by feeding them. However, some things are not good for dogs’ health, such as chocolate. So why can't dogs eat chocolate? What should you do if a dog eats chocolate?

1. There is a common saying that dogs cannot eat chocolate. However, many owners have heard that small dogs cannot eat chocolate, but large dogs can. The truth is, regardless of the dog’s size, it is best not to let any dog eat chocolate. This is because chocolate contains a substance that, when eaten by dogs, is equivalent to ingesting deadly poison, which can cause death within a short time.

2. Once a dog mistakenly ingests chocolate, many abnormal symptoms will appear. For example, the dog may become very excited and run around wildly. If you can calm the dog down, consider that an achievement. Furthermore, after eating chocolate, the dog's heart rate will increase, and some dogs may experience full-body convulsions. Even a tiny amount of chocolate may cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs.

3. So, if a dog accidentally eats chocolate, how should owners handle it? First, call a veterinary hospital or the doctor at a local pet store and try to clearly explain the dog's current symptoms, then follow the rescue instructions given over the phone.

4. If owners cannot contact a pet store or veterinary hospital, they should quickly induce vomiting in the dog using compulsory methods to expel all the chocolate ingested. The most common method is for the owner to buy 3% hydrogen peroxide at a pharmacy to effectively induce vomiting in the dog. If the hydrogen peroxide concentration exceeds 3%, it must be diluted with water.

5. In real life, the types of chocolate we encounter mainly include white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate, as well as sugar-free chocolate and cocoa. All of these chocolates are toxic to dogs. The higher the purity of chocolate, the greater the toxicity.

6. Symptoms dogs may show after ingesting chocolate include: hyperactivity, seizures, increased urination, anxiety, increased or slowed heart rate, and thirst.