While chocolate is a beloved treat for humans, it’s unfortunately toxic for dogs. However, one family decided to let their elderly dog experience the taste of chocolate as a final treat before his euthanasia.

A TikTok video, posted by @lushblends26, captures the touching moment when the family feeds their senior dog pieces of a Hershey’s chocolate bar. Despite the general advice against giving dogs chocolate, this family made an exception for their cherished pet who was nearing the end of his life, wanting to give him a unique experience.

The owner expressed, “No dog should go to Heaven without knowing how chocolate tastes.” The dog consumed a small amount of chocolate, which was not enough to cause harm or discomfort, and according to the owner, he “loved it.”

The decision to euthanize their elderly dog was made after his quality of life had significantly declined, and he began showing signs of readiness to pass on. The owner shared in the comments, “It was so hard seeing him in pain. The vet told me he will give me signs when he’s ready to go. He finally showed me those signs.”

Parting with a pet is always a heart-wrenching experience. For this family, it meant saying goodbye to a companion who had been a significant part of their lives. “My husband got him when we started dating,” @lushblends26 revealed. “He was there when my kids were born and as they grew up. He protected me and the kids. I miss him so much!” The video has since gone viral, amassing nearly 2 million views on TikTok, with many viewers expressing their sympathy and sharing their own experiences.

@lushblends26 Miss my best friend everyday! 😭😭 #dogs #dogsoftiktok #dogsheaven #heaven #bestfriend #fypシ #foryourpage #foryoupage #foryou #foru #foryoupageofficiall #fypシ゚viral #2024 #videoviral #for #video #chocolate #foryoupage❤️❤️ #foryoupagethis #foryoup ♬ You Are The Reason – Alex Porat

Chocolate is known to be harmful to dogs due to the presence of theobromine and caffeine, which can stimulate the central nervous system and heart and act as diuretics. However, the risk varies with different types of chocolate, with milk chocolate being relatively safer. Therefore, it’s unlikely that the dog experienced any negative effects from consuming a few pieces of Hershey’s chocolate.

@lushblends26 You can see he was in so much pain. Hard to get up and it was hard to walk. He lost control of his bowel movements. Stop eating and drinking. Yellow vest helped him get around. Miss him everyday!#dogs #dogsoftiktok #dogsofttiktok #dog #dogsvideo #dogsoftiktokviral #dogstory #heaven #heavenofficialsblessing #veteran #sad #sadstory #heartbroken #heart #fypシ #foryourpage #foryoupageofficiall #foru #foryoupage❤️❤️ #foryou #foryourpage #forupage #foryour #foryoupagethis ♬ Dogs Go to Heaven – Clayton Hackle

Interestingly, it’s not uncommon for people to give their dogs a small amount of chocolate as a final treat. A veterinary clinic in Alabama went viral for their jar of “goodbye kisses” – Hershey’s Kisses given to dogs about to be euthanized. “This jar is reserved for our euthanasia appointments…because no dog should go to Heaven without tasting chocolate.”

What a beautiful thing to do for a dog — we know this dog felt such joy and love in his final moments ❤️🌈