Chocolate is very popular all over the world, and there is a good reason for this. Chocolate is also known to make a lot of people happy. It even contains compounds that are involved with mood-lifting chemicals in our brains!
It is also common knowledge that dogs cannot eat chocolate. That is because it contains a toxic ingredient that is dangerous for our dogs.
Yet, there are many different types of chocolate out there. And one of these is white chocolate.
And aside from the flavor, the contents of each type of chocolate are different too. With that being the case, it brings up the question, can dogs eat white chocolate?
In this article we will tell you whether white chocolate is safe for dogs. We will tell you if this food has healthy benefits or if it has harmful effects to our dogs.
Can Dogs Eat White Chocolate?
The short answer is no. Dogs must absolutely not eat white chocolate. White chocolate is an unsafe food for dogs.
There are many types of foods that are not good for dogs such as grapes, bones, and regular chocolate. You can add white chocolate to this list.
Just like it’s dark and milk chocolate counterparts, white chocolate is considered dangerous for our furry pooches.
That is because chocolate contains an ingredient that is toxic to dogs. That toxic ingredient is called theobromine.
More on White Chocolate and Dogs
However, white chocolate often contains less theobromine compared to dark and milk chocolates. So essentially, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is.
Dark chocolate contains a highly concentrated theobromine, measuring about 130-450 mg of theobromine per ounce. On the other hand, milk chocolate averagely has 44-58 mg/ounce of theobromine.
White chocolates only have about 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate. This means that white chocolate is not necessarily toxic to dogs, unless you feed them a very large amount.
More Precautions on Dogs and White Chocolate
Although white chocolate is not toxic, or at least as toxic as its darker counterparts, this does not mean that you should feed them white chocolate. It is also important to remember that white chocolate is still high in sugar and fats.
Feeding too much sugar to dogs can cause trouble to their health. It puts them at risk of having diabetes, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), or even weight gain.
The same goes for an overconsumption of fats. This is particularly true for unhealthy fats, which white chocolate has. Fats can cause a couple of conditions like obesity, pancreatitis, and more.
So, while white chocolate is not that dangerous and toxic compared to milk and dark chocolates, it is still not a great treat option. It still has enough sugar and fats to endanger dogs.
Sweets in general are a no-no for our dogs. So it is best to stay away from white chocolate and other chocolates when it comes to dogs.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Up next, find out Can Dogs Eat Crackers?