My dog

Schedules, units and retailers all change with this.

Can dogs eat it?

Can dogs drink coffee?

No, toxic No. Caffeine overstimulates a dog's heart and nervous system. Coffee grounds, beans, tea bags and energy drinks are the biggest risks.

Why

Caffeine belongs to the same family of stimulants as the theobromine in chocolate, and pets are much more sensitive to it than people (PDSA). AKC says a lick or two of coffee usually is not enough to poison most dogs, but grounds, beans and tea bags can cause serious toxicity, and small dogs are affected by less. Signs usually show within 30 to 60 minutes and can last from 12 hours to several days. Caffeine is also in energy drinks, chocolate and some painkillers.

Signs to watch for

If your dog ate coffee, tea and caffeine

Call your vet with your dog's weight and your best guess of what and how much. Your vet may make your dog vomit if it was within a few hours. Never do this yourself.

If your dog has eaten something toxic

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Do not wait for signs, and do not make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to. Take the packet with you.

Australia: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 1300 869 738. Open 24/7. Its own home page says consultations with a Poisons Information Consultant are available from $75 AUD. Older pages still call it free: RSPCA Australia's knowledgebase (last updated December 2023) and the helpline's own 2019 launch news, so ask about the fee when you call.
United States: poison advice lines
United Kingdom: poison advice lines
  • Animal PoisonLine: 01202 509 000. Open 24 hours, run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. £35 per call 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, £45 at all other times including bank holidays, paid by card (Amex not accepted). If your pet shows collapse, seizures or breathing difficulty, it says to contact your vet immediately instead.
Canada: poison advice lines
  • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661. Its own site says it is available throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, 24/7. A USD 89 per incident fee applies, which includes follow-up consultations.
New Zealand: poison advice lines
  • Animal Poisons Helpline: 0800 869 738. Open 24/7, the same service as in Australia. New Zealand's National Poisons Centre says it is available to all New Zealand pet owners and that charges do apply; the amount for New Zealand callers is not stated.
  • National Poisons Centre (for people). New Zealand's National Poisons Centre handles human poisonings and says it is not expert in animal poisonings. For a pet, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Puppies, small dogs and dogs with a health condition can react to smaller amounts. Check with your own vet before changing what your dog eats.

Other foods people ask about

Alcohol No, toxic No. Alcohol is absorbed fast and can cause wobbliness, low blood sugar, low body temperature, seizures and coma in dogs. Energy drinks No, toxic No. Energy drinks carry a lot of caffeine, often with other stimulants such as guarana. Call your vet if your dog drank some. Acorns No, toxic No. Acorns are poisonous to dogs. Their tannins can cause a bad stomach upset and, rarely, kidney or liver failure, and they can block the gut. Blue cheese No, toxic No. Blue cheese is made with a mould and contains roquefortine C, which can cause tremors and seizures in dogs. Chives and leeks No, toxic No. Chives and leeks belong to the same family as onions and garlic and can damage a dog's red blood cells. Chocolate No, toxic No. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most dangerous.

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-29.