White chocolate

What is white chocolate?

White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, which is pressed from the cocoa mass. The cocoa mass is the product obtained from the roasted and ground cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is the fat from the cocoa bean and has a mild flavor. To make white chocolate, the cocoa butter is mixed with sugar, milk powder and vanilla and heated. The mixture is then poured into molds and cooled.

According to EU guidelines, white chocolate must contain at least 20 percent cocoa butter and 14 percent dry milk. As it does not contain cocoa powder, it is not strictly speaking considered chocolate, but a chocolate product.

Is white chocolate poisonous for dogs?

White chocolate is not as toxic to dogs as dark chocolate or dark chocolate, which contain much more cocoa powder. This is because the cocoa powder contains the substance theobromine, which can be very dangerous for dogs. Theobromine affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems of dogs and can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, convulsions or a racing heart. In the worst case, theobromine poisoning can even lead to the dog's death.

White chocolate contains very little theobromine as it does not contain cocoa powder. The amount of theobromine in white chocolate is around 0.1 milligrams per gram. By comparison, dark chocolate contains around 15 milligrams per gram. This means that a dog weighing 10 kilograms would have to eat about 1 kilogram of white chocolate to ingest a lethal dose of theobromine. With dark chocolate, it would only be around 70 grams.

What other disadvantages does white chocolate have for dogs?

Although white chocolate is not as toxic to dogs as dark chocolate, this does not mean that it is healthy or harmless. White chocolate contains a lot of sugar, fat and calories, which can lead to obesity, diabetes or other diseases in dogs. The high sugar content can also contribute to tooth decay or gingivitis in dogs.

White chocolate can also contain other ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. For example, nuts, raisins or artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can be found in some types of white chocolate. These can lead to allergic reactions or poisoning in dogs.

How should you react if your dog has eaten white chocolate?

If your dog has eaten white chocolate, you should first stay calm and assess the amount he has ingested. If it's a small amount, you probably don't need to worry. However, keep an eye on your dog for any signs of intolerance, such as vomiting, diarrhea or restlessness. If these occur, you should contact your vet.

If your dog has eaten a large amount of white chocolate, you should call your vet immediately and tell them about the situation. He will tell you whether you should take your dog to the vet or whether you can help him at home. They may advise you to give your dog activated charcoal to prevent ingestion of theobromine. Activated charcoal is a powder that you can buy at a pharmacy or pet supply store. You can mix it with a little water and put it in your dog's mouth with a syringe.

How can you prevent your dog from eating white chocolate?

The best way to prevent your dog from eating white chocolate is to keep it out of his reach. Keep white chocolate in a locked cupboard or drawer and don't leave it out in the open on the table or kitchen counter. If you eat white chocolate, make sure that your dog is not nearby or that you don't give him any leftovers.

If you want to give your dog a sweet treat, opt for special dog treats or healthy alternatives such as fruit or vegetables. However, make sure that you only choose varieties that are well tolerated by dogs. For example, apples, bananas or carrots are good for dogs, while grapes, onions or avocados are poisonous for them.