01-07-2025
Hysterics Over How Great Dane Acts After Eating 'Special' Chocolate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Dogs will eat practically anything, and big dogs like this Great Dane can often use their height to their advantage to swipe human food from counters. However, doing this isn't always a wise move.
One owner has recently shared what happened to her pup, who recently ate some "special chocolate." While she does not specify what was in it, she makes references to the dog being on 'another planet' after consuming it.
The text layered over the video of the spaced-out dog reads: "My Great Dane just learned that he couldn't grab anything off people's counters [because] it could be 'special' chocolates, not regular. Anyway my man will be back from Jupiter in [three] hours probably."
Newsweek discussed the video, which has more than 1.3 million views and over 181,500 likes, with senior veterinary surgeon Dane Walker.
He said: "We need to remember that our pets don't understand what's safe to eat and what's not. A moment of curiosity can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency.
"Chocolate contains theobromine and, to a lesser extent, caffeine—both toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause serious problems like vomiting, tremors, seizures, and, in the worst cases, death.
"Dogs are also extremely sensitive to THC—the psychoactive compound in cannabis—which can be found in some edibles. If your dog manages to get hold of something they shouldn't, it's crucial to act fast and contact your vet immediately."
Walker, the founder of independent U.K. veterinary group DNA Vetcare, highlights the following symptoms of poisoning: restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or seizures can appear rapidly. Always err on the side of caution and call your vet straight away.
Stock image: A Great Dane dog in the kitchen looks for food.
Stock image: A Great Dane dog in the kitchen looks for food.
gsagi/iStock / Getty Images Plus
He said: "If possible, keep hold of any packaging and note down exactly what was eaten, how much, when it happened, and any symptoms you've noticed—this can make a real difference to your vet's assessment.
"It goes without saying but always keep potentially toxic foods out of reach—not just chocolate and cannabis edibles, but also grapes and raisins, which are particularly dangerous for dogs. The Great Dane in this video was incredibly lucky his owner acted so quickly—it could have ended very differently."
Despite the initial panic, the woman told another user: "After I found out he would be okay, we really went on a wild ride and I couldn't stop laughing half the night."
It turns out she wasn't the only one who managed to see the funny side, but her vet too, as mentioned in the caption: "His vet couldn't stop laughing."
"That poor baby. The human sitting pose is priceless. he's just zoned out," said one comment, and the owner responded: "He's like "try to act normal, try to act normal."
"As a Great Dane owner, how do you tell? Mine acts like he's on the moon all of the time and is paranoid and terrified of everything smaller than him," said another user.
Newsweek reached out to @glynis_leigh for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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