Chocolate and sweet-flavoured dog treats
Chocolate itself is toxic to dogs, so every treat sold as 'chocolate' or 'choc-flavoured' for a dog is made from something else entirely — usually carob, a naturally sweet, caffeine-free pod that looks and tastes similar without any of the risk. These treats give a dog the sweet, rich flavour owners associate with chocolate while staying completely safe to feed.
Why these treats are safe when real chocolate isn't
Real chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which dogs process far more slowly than people do, which is what makes it dangerous even in fairly small amounts. Carob, which is what products like Rosewood Choc Drops for Dogs are made from, contains neither — it's a different plant altogether, not a reduced-caffeine version of cocoa.
That's an important distinction to make clear, because the name on the packet is deliberately evocative of a food that is genuinely dangerous for dogs. Nothing in this aisle is chocolate with the harmful part removed; it's a different ingredient chosen because it tastes similarly sweet.
How to use them
Treat them the same as any other reward — a handful during training, a treat-time favourite, or something to stuff into a puzzle feeder — rather than a substitute for a meal. Like any sweet treat, a dog who has a large amount in one go can end up with a loose stomach, simply from the sugar and richness rather than anything toxic.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach or is watching their weight, treat this aisle the same as any other indulgent treat and keep portions small and occasional rather than a daily habit.
What to check on the label
Look for carob named specifically on the ingredients list, along with what else is in the treat — some combine it with other flavours like liver or peanut butter, which changes what else you need to check for if your dog has a known sensitivity.
As with any treat, introduce a new one gradually rather than a full handful on the first try, and keep an eye on your dog's stools over the following day the way you would with any new food.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- Can dogs eat real chocolate at all?
- No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs cannot process the way people can, and it is genuinely dangerous even in fairly small amounts depending on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If your dog has eaten real chocolate, ring your vet straight away rather than waiting to see.
- What is carob, and is it safe?
- Carob comes from the pod of the carob tree and is naturally sweet without containing theobromine or caffeine, which is why it's used in place of cocoa in treats made for dogs. It's a genuinely different ingredient rather than a modified form of chocolate.
- Can puppies have carob or 'chocolate-flavoured' dog treats?
- Once weaned onto solid food, yes, in small amounts as an occasional treat. Introduce any new treat gradually and start with less than you'd give an adult dog, since a puppy's stomach is more easily upset.
- Why do these treats look and smell like real chocolate?
- Carob has a naturally sweet, slightly cocoa-like flavour and colour on its own, which is exactly why it's used as the chocolate substitute in dog treats rather than something else. It isn't flavoured to imitate chocolate artificially — it simply tastes similar to begin with.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.