Suspect poisoning? US: ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · UK: 01202 509 000 · Severe symptoms → nearest emergency vet now.

My 7 kg dog ate a chocolate-coated protein bar with raisins in it — is the coating or the filling more dangerous?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Both are dangerous, and together they create a dual emergency. The chocolate coating contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs, and the raisin filling can cause kidney failure. You cannot wait to see which one causes problems first. Call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 immediately. Tell them the bar had both chocolate and raisins, and estimate how much your dog ate. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed. Many protein bars also contain xylitol, so bring the wrapper if you have it — the label is crucial for proper treatment.

Protein & energy bars — Food safety facts

Do not feed · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Very often sweetened with xylitol or coated in chocolate. Treat every bar as toxic until you read the label.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Protein & energy bars should not be given to dogs at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.

Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.

Why these cautions matter

Even a gram or two of xylitol can trigger a sharp drop in a dog's blood sugar, and larger exposures go on to damage the liver.

Theobromine is the part that hurts. Pets clear it far more slowly than people do, so it builds up and reaches the heart and nervous system.

Added sugar brings empty calories, and over months that means weight gain and dental disease — both far harder to undo than to avoid.

Protein & energy bars has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Protein & energy bars food facts page.

Open the full food page: Protein & energy bars food facts →