I think my dog ate a chocolate bunny!

 I guess it would help if I tell you it was about half of a 7 oz bar of cheap milk chocolate.  My dog is just over 50 lbs but should be about 45 lbs. 

 Luckily my 2 yr old hasn't figured out it's missing yet.

You might want to make a phone call to your local emergency vet and get advice directly and quickly. 

Here is a calculator to determine if your dog ate enough to be toxic:

http://www.askavetquestion.com/chocolate_toxicity.php

I plugged your numbers into the calculator and got this:

"Expected level of chocolate toxicity for your dog is:

Your dog has ingested less than 20mg/kg of the two toxic ingredients in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine.

At this level we do not expect to see any side effects and you likely do not need to seek emergency treatment.

Although we don't expect to see side effects, here is a list of things to look for (in case your dog ate more than you think):

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mild Hyperactivity

• Increased thirst and urination
• Abdominal bloating
• Extreme hyperactivity
• Dilated pupils
• Ataxia (wobbliness)
• Fast heart rate (i.e. >200 b.p.m.)
• Tremors or seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• coma

If your dog does develop any of these symptoms, please seek emergency care immediately."

The good part was it was "cheap" chocolate. 

Theobromide, in the dog's liver, turns into a substance very like cocaine.  (yes, I'm serious) -- you may see the dog have the zoomies tonight or be unable to settle.

Now my pug ate 6 oz of chocolate two Christmas's ago and I thot she was going to have a heart attack she was SO unable to settle down (she literally RAN IN CIRCLES for hours and hours!!) 

The reality is -- some dogs (particularly laid back ones) often don't seem to "show" problems from getting into chocolate.  However, it's there -- it is *very* hard on the liver and the results can be cumulative (i.e., don't let it become a habit).

What can you do?  Milk thistle is the easy answer.  It's best to *protect* the liver, but it is a darned good, easily available, detox as well.  Health store item.  If you can find milk thistle **tea** (it's just the loose herb in a bagl and easier to give to the dog).  OR you can get milk thistle capsules.  Giving 2-3 capsules about three times a day thru the whole bottle will help detox the dog pretty painlessly.  Get a good brand -- don't try for the grocery store generic on this one -- it's like buying tomatos -- you know there are stores you **won't** shop for produce in?? Same thing with herbs -- a cheap knock-off, or "store brand" often doesn't have much of the actual herb in it (it can be mostly hay or grass -- herbs aren't regulated). 

If you have a small mom & pop health store that's usually where I head -- just ask them what brand *they* use. 

Had it been 3-4 oz of bakers chocolate you'd have been in SERIOUS trouble.  The darker the chocolate the higher the levels of theobromide.

 But make it a good lesson -- Easter is coming and you don't want the child to 'share' with the dog.  Dogs LOVE chocolate and can be pretty crafty about finding it.  Particularly on a holiday (Callie remembering Tink's experience with 6 oz of Hershey kisses on Christmas Eve 2009 and the "Christmas of the Sparkle Poop"  ***SIGH***).  To this day she will track down chocoalte like she has radar!!

 Thanks, I like that calculator.  I found a couple of other sites that gave me the info to do the math, but they indicated he could have eaten a lot more than the calculator and still be OK. 

 Tonight would be a really bad night for an emergency vet trip.  It's probably been 2 1/2 - 3 hrs and he seems fine. He was so great about not table surfing before I had kids now he's ultra vulture. 

 Yeh, this won't be a habit it's the first time in 9 years he's gotten chocolate.  The kids don't normally have access to that much candy but I bribed the 2 yr old (potty training) today and made the mistake of telling her she could pick out her own chocolate.  Normally it would be 1 mini Reese's PB cup, but she had to have the giant bunny. 

 I live in the boonies and my shopping options are very limited but I'll look for the milk thistle.  

 No zoomies tonight, he's half asleep and snoring.  I'll keep an eye out for other symptoms just in case.  

 It was very cheap chocolate $1 bunny, and lighter in color than a Hersey bar, it was surprisingly good though. 

Wal-Mart actually has a darned good milk thistle.  And Walgreens isn't bad either.  If you get desperate, many malls have a GNC -- they're pricey but good quality.

 The good news is above.  The bad news is simple.  Your dog has tasted the forbidden fruit, and likes it.  Prepare for more drool, sad brown eyes, and occasional sneaky behavior. 

Glad to hear that your baby ended up being ok!

 Crazy... I did not really know that chocolate could be so toxic for dogs - I have never heart of that before...Thank God I know now in order to prepare and prevent my baby from eating chocolate. Does it depend on the purity of the chocolate or are any kinds of pralines, chocolate bars, chocolate bunnies toxic to our beloved animals?

Here's a good resource for you.  Bookmark it for future reference.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx

AlanL

Does it depend on the purity of the chocolate or are any kinds of pralines, chocolate bars, chocolate bunnies toxic to our beloved animals?

The concentration of theobromine in the chocolate is the important factor.  White chocolate is seldom a problem - takes many pounds to cause a problem.  Other types of chocolate are dangerous in much smaller amounts.  Read the article below.

http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-dog-poisoning.shtml
"Knowing which chocolate is the most toxic is important, but leaves one wondering how much must be eaten to poison a dog. The list in this box should be helpful. Maybe you can clip it and post it on your refrigerator?