Just like milk and dark chocolate, dogs should not be given white chocolate. While white chocolate contains much less theobromine (the chemical responsible for chocolate poisoning in pets), white chocolate can still be a danger to your pup if ingested. 

When it comes to chocolate and pets remember dark chocolate = dangerous. Baking chocolate and premium dark chocolate, for example, are highly concentrated and hence contain 130 to 450 mg of theobromine per ounce, but normal milk chocolate typically has 44 to 58 mg/ounce of theobromine.  

White chocolate may have a far lower concentration of theobromine than dark chocolate, but it is still harmful to our pets to eat. There is just 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce in white chocolate, meaning dogs would have to eat a lot of white chocolate to experience chocolate poisoning. So why is white chocolate dangerous for dogs? 

White Chocolate for Dogs: The Dangers

The real issue with white chocolate lies in its high fat content. 

White chocolate can present similar clinical signs to chocolate poisoning, such as vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea, as well as more serious illnesses such as pancreatitis, and inflammation of the pancreas. 

Treatment

If you think your dog may have gotten their paws on your baking supply of white chocolate, remain calm and call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline® immediately. Continue monitoring your pet for health changes and follow your veterinarian’s instructions. 

When you arrive, your veterinarian may need to induce vomiting and administer additional treatment such as IV fluids or sedatives to keep your pet calm. In severe cases more aggressive treatment may be needed.