I left the pantry open, and Max, my French bulldog puppy, got into some chocolate. He seems fine, but should I be freaking out? Do I need to call a vet? Is this dangerous? I’m so worried!

Hey there, I completely understand your worry about Max getting into chocolate. Let’s go through this together calmly. Chocolate can be a problem for dogs because it contains theobromine, which can be toxic to them. The amount and type of chocolate matter - for example, dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate.

Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Increased thirst and urination
• Restlessness or very high energy levels
• Muscle tremors
• In severe cases, seizures

For a French bulldog puppy like Max, here's a rough guide: as little as 20mg per kilogram of body weight can cause mild symptoms, while over 60mg/kg can be more severe. To give you some context, dark chocolate can contain between 5-15mg of theobromine per gram, so even a small amount can be concerning.

What you can do now:

• Keep him calm and try to encourage drinking water to help flush out his system.
• If he’s not showing any symptoms, you might just observe him for the next 12-24 hours. Sometimes symptoms take a while to appear.

Call your vet if:

• He starts showing any symptoms like listed above.
• You know he ate a large quantity, particularly if it's darker chocolate.
• He has any pre-existing health conditions or is a smaller sized puppy.

If you’re unsure or your pet’s symptoms worsen, it’s best to book a call with a vet on Dial A Vet for professional advice.