If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Do not wait for symptoms. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).
Why
Caffeine belongs to the same group of stimulants as the theobromine in chocolate. Dogs are much more sensitive to it than people are.
Coffee grounds, whole beans, tea bags, energy drinks and caffeine pills are more dangerous than a lick of milky coffee because they are concentrated. Chocolate-covered coffee beans combine two risks.
Symptoms to watch for
- Restlessness and hyperactivity
- Vomiting
- Fast heart rate
- Panting and high body temperature
- Tremors or seizures
- Signs often begin within one to two hours
What to do if your dog eats it
- Contact your veterinarian, especially if your dog ate grounds, beans, pills or an energy drink.
- Dispose of used grounds and tea bags in a covered bin.
- Offer fresh water instead. Dogs have no need for caffeinated drinks.
Pods, cold brew, pre-workout powder: the less obvious caffeine
Beyond coffee and tea, caffeine turns up in coffee pods and capsules, cold brew concentrate, instant coffee, caffeinated gum, pre-workout powders, some diet pills and many energy supplements.
Look for guarana, kola nut, yerba mate and green tea extract on labels. These are all caffeine sources. A used coffee pod has the added risk of a plastic or foil casing that can block the gut. Decaf coffee still contains a little caffeine, so it is not a treat either. Keep gym bags and supplement tubs closed and off the floor.
How much caffeine does it take?
Caffeine and theobromine act the same way, and the Merck Veterinary Manual gives approximate thresholds for them together. Mild signs can begin at about 20 mg per kg of body weight. Heart effects appear around 40 to 50 mg/kg, and seizures at about 60 mg/kg.
A lick from a cup of milky coffee is unlikely to reach those levels. Caffeine pills and energy powders can, sometimes with a single tablet or scoop for a small dog. Read the milligrams on the label and give that number to your vet or poison control.
What treatment looks like
Caffeine is absorbed quickly, so time matters. If the dog is not showing signs yet, the vet may decide to make it vomit and give activated charcoal. Once a dog is shaking or its heart is racing, the focus moves to controlling those signs.
Treatment usually includes IV fluids to help flush the caffeine out, medicine to slow the heart or stop tremors, and heart monitoring. The staff also let the dog urinate often, or place a urinary catheter, because caffeine can be reabsorbed from urine in the bladder. With large doses, signs can last many hours, so an overnight stay is common.
Common questions
Is coffee good for dogs?
No. Caffeine belongs to the same group of stimulants as the theobromine in chocolate.
Is coffee bad for dogs?
Yes. Signs of poisoning to watch for: restlessness and hyperactivity, vomiting and fast heart rate.
Are dogs allowed to have coffee?
No, keep it away from your dog. If your dog eats some anyway: contact your veterinarian, especially if your dog ate grounds, beans, pills or an energy drink.