Honey! The Dog Ate CHOCOLATE!!

It happened so fast. One moment, Dixie—my three-year-old Labrador Retriever—was begging for attention, and the next, I walked into a disaster zone in the kitchen. Chocolate wrappers and broken boxes were scattered across the floor. In the middle of it all sat Dixie, mid-munch, licking the last traces from a box of dark chocolate squares—Purdy’s, in the signature purple box.

“Dixie!” I gasped. She looked up at me with that goofy smile of hers, completely unaware that chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Panic washed over me. “Honey!” I called out to my husband. “Dixie ate chocolate! What do we do?”

I took a deep breath—Don’t panic, I reminded myself—as my husband dialed the closest emergency hospital.

Step 1: Call the Emergency Hospital

We called Central Toronto Veterinary Emergency. On speaker, a calm voice answered, “Thank you for calling Central Toronto Veterinary Emergency. My name is Sarah. How can I help you?”

I leaned toward the phone. “My dog ate a lot of dark chocolate. What should I do?”

Sarah asked calmly, “When did this happen? What’s her weight? How much did she eat? Any chance she swallowed wrappers?”

“She’s a 25 kg Labrador Retriever,” I replied. “She ate a whole box—about 200 grams of dark chocolate, including some foil-wrapped pieces.”

Sarah instructed us to come in immediately.

Step 2: Travel to the Hospital

We loaded Dixie into the car. My husband drove while I sat in the back, cuddling her. She was quieter than usual.

Step 3: Check-In and Triage

At the clinic, I explained what had happened.

Sarah reassured me. Soon, a technician approached. “Hi, I’m Melanie, the RVT. Due to the risk of chocolate toxicity, I’ll need to take Dixie to the treatment area to examine her and induce vomiting. Do I have your consent?”

“Yes, absolutely,” I said.

Step 4: Examination and Treatment

Melanie checked Dixie’s vitals and weight to ensure accurate dosing. The veterinarian reviewed her case, completed a full exam, and confirmed the plan to induce vomiting.

Dixie received an intravenous injection to make her vomit. Time is critical—chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to dogs. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or worse.

Step 5: Vomiting and Reassessment

Minutes later, Dixie started to drool and her body tensed. Melanie was ready with a bucket. Dixie vomited—chocolate and foil wrappers included. Her vitals were checked again and closely monitored in the treatment room.

Step 6: Update from the Veterinarian

Melanie returned to the lobby. “Dixie did great! We got a lot of the chocolate out and she’s resting comfortably.”

The veterinarian arrived shortly after and explained the outcome: the vomiting was successful, and Dixie was given activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxins. She’d need a follow-up with her regular vet—but she was stable and could go home that day.

Step 7: Discharge and Pet Insurance

Dixie rejoined us in the exam room, wagging her tail and looking sleepy. I hugged her tightly. “No more chocolate for you,” I whispered.

At checkout, Sarah asked about our pet insurance and prepared the claim paperwork. We paid the balance and would be reimbursed later.

“Thank you for everything,” I said sincerely. “You’ve all been amazing.”

We loaded Dixie back into the car and headed home, grateful for the quick response and incredible care. From now on, every ounce of chocolate and other potentially toxic foods will be locked far out of Dixie’s reach.

Emergency Visit Tips for Pet Owners

Not every case is this straightforward—every pet and situation is unique. If your pet shows unusual signs or symptoms, don’t wait. Contact your local vet or emergency clinic immediately.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

1. Call ahead to your nearest emergency clinic—don’t rely solely on Google.

2. Map your route carefully to avoid confusion or delays.

3. Check-in and triage can be online or in person—expect potential wait times.

4. Examination and treatment will vary—each case is different.

5. Be patient — your pet is being closely monitored.

6. Stay informed — the medical team will update you and guide follow-up care.

7. Consider pet insurance — it can make a big difference during emergencies.

Disclosure: The characters and scenarios in this story are fictional and created for educational purposes.