PawScore
DangerAuto-avoidDogs and cats

Chocolate / cocoa

Also labeled as

cocoa powdercacaocarob excluded

Why it matters

Theobromine in chocolate and cocoa is toxic to dogs and cats. Carob is the safe lookalike and is not penalized.

How PawScore treats it

Foods containing Chocolate / cocoa are auto-avoid when we grade the label. We don't publish the exact numeric weights so scores stay honest as the rubric evolves.

Source

Peer-reviewed review: Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats (Front Vet Sci 2016)