While many of us find it impossible to deny our dog the occasional treat of 'people' food, this should absolutely NEVER include chocolate. There is a naturally occuring alkaloid in the cocoa bean called theobromine, which in small doses can cause vomiting and restlessness and in large doses can cause death.

The lethal dose depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has 6 - 9 times as much theobromine as milk chocolate.

Estimates of the smallest amounts that can be fatal:

• Small dogs (under 20 lbs) - 4 to 10 ounces of milk chocolate or 1/2 to 1 ounce of baking chocolate
   
• Medium dogs (20 to 40 lbs) - 1 to 11/2 pound of milk chocolate or 2 to 3 ounces of baking chocolate
   
• Large dogs (over 40 lbs) - 2 to 4 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 4 to 8 ounces of baking chocolate.

Make sure never to give your dog chocolate and never leave it laying around where your dog could get into it!