Is Cocoa Butter Safe for Dogs? Vet-Verified Safety & Advice

You might be suspicious of cocoa butter when you have dogs. After all, we’ve had it beat into our heads for years that cocoa is toxic—chocolate is bad, bad, bad! But cocoa butter has a different composition, so you may wonder is it safe for dogs?

In general, yes, cocoa butter is safe for dogs when used topically. It contains trace amounts of theobromine, the compound in chocolate that is toxic to dogs, but if a little is licked off their skin it won’t hurt your dog.

Let’s explore cocoa butter’s safety for dogs a little more in this article.

What Is Cocoa Butter?

Cocoa butter, which is also called theobroma oil, is pale yellow in color and considered an edible fat that is extracted from the cacao plant. This is the same plant that chocolate comes from, which is why many pet owners are concerned about cocoa butter’s safety. But cocoa butter is a substance that is often used to make ointments, pharmaceuticals, and other toiletries, as well as being used in some sweet treats and baked goods.

Despite its name, cocoa butter does not contain any butter or animal products. It is actually considered a vegan substance and it is completely harmless to dogs when used topically.

But since cocoa butter is typically used topically, you can actually use doggy specific items with this ingredient in it. It does have nourishing properties that soothe the skin, so it's excellent for certain things.

How Is Cocoa Butter Different Than Chocolate?

We have it drilled in our brains as pet owners that cocoa and chocolate is terrible for our pets. But to understand this better, we need to know exactly what it is about cocoa that is toxic and how it differs from what cocoa butter is.

Cocoa contains a component called theobromine, which is a type of methylxanthine that is toxic to dogs. If a chocolate is darker or more bitter, it contains a higher amount of the substance. Since white chocolate is made of cocoa butter and no cocoa solids, it has the lowest risk, while the darkest chocolate obviously contains the highest.

While cocoa butter does not have the same level of theobromine as chocolate, it does still contain trace amounts of theobromine since it comes from the same plant as chocolate. That being said, it would take massive amounts of pure cocoa butter to cause any problems, so if your dog licks a bit off their skin they should be fine. If the product you use is not 100% cocoa butter then the chances of toxicity are even lower. Realistically your dog is more likely to have issues related to fat ingestion like pancreatitis or weight gain if they eat cocoa butter.

For reference, a study has shown that cocoa can contain around 26,000 mg/kg but there is only around 140 mg/kg in cocoa butter. So ingesting cocoa butter won’t cause the same level of toxicity as ingesting chocolate would, but it can still result in an upset stomach for your dog, especially if you have a small dog.

Cocoa Butter & Its Safety

Cocoa butter is generally considered safe for dogs, topically only. It is often used in balms, conditioners, and other pet products to soften the skin and coat. So, if you've recently seen this ingredient listed in one of the products you bought for your pet, you can relax! It is not going to cause any problems for your canine companion provided that they don’t ingest a lot of it.

Cocoa butter can promote benefits that are:

• Healing: Cocoa butter can help itchy areas, so it’s great for dogs with allergies! It can also help speedily heal up abrasions, bites, and other hot spots.
• Conditioning: Cocoa butter works great in conditioners as it helps detangle the fur and nourish the skin.
• Moisturizing: Cocoa butter can provide a protective layer, helping the skin's moisture barrier.

If you’re planning on using cocoa butter by itself for your dog, though, it’s best to use only products specifically designed for dogs. Human formulas could contain additional ingredients that are harmful for dogs. Human creams are also designed for human skin. Our dogs have thinner and less acidic skin than we do meaning that human products can make their skin worse.

Conclusion

So now you understand a little bit more about cocoa butter and its safety. Keep in mind that cocoa butter is not cocoa, so it’s not as toxic to dogs, but it does contain trace amounts of theobromine so it should only be used topically.

If you have recently bought a balm or conditioner for your dog, you don't have to freak out about it being on the ingredients label. It's perfectly safe as long as your dog doesn’t ingest a lot of it, and it can soothe and repair your dog’s skin!

• See also: Can Dogs Eat Smarties? Vet-Approved Risks & FAQ

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock