Can dogs eat coffee and caffeine?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
No. Never share coffee and caffeine with dogs; call your vet or a poison line if some is eaten. Caffeine is a stimulant, and VCA says dogs and cats are more sensitive to it than people. Pet Poison Helpline says one or two licks of coffee or soda is unlikely to poison most pets, but larger amounts can cause hyperactivity, vomiting, a fast or uneven heartbeat, tremors and seizures.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Why
Caffeine is a stimulant, and VCA says dogs and cats are more sensitive to it than people. Pet Poison Helpline says one or two licks of coffee or soda is unlikely to poison most pets, but larger amounts can cause hyperactivity, vomiting, a fast or uneven heartbeat, tremors and seizures. Call a vet or poison line if a pet gets into more than a lick.
Good to know
Unused coffee grounds, beans, tea bags and supplements are the biggest risk, much more than a lick of a drink.
Watch for: Caffeine hides in energy drinks, diet pills, some cold medicines, pre-workout supplements, coffee ice cream and chocolate-covered coffee beans.
Already ate it?
Call now, even if your pet seems fine. Say what was eaten, how much and when, and have your pet's weight ready.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Coffee and caffeine can make dogs very sick. Never share this food, and tell a grown-up right away if a pet gets some."
A job: Be the label reader. Before a grown-up shares any food with the dog, check this page, and ask a grown-up if the food is not on it.
A fridge sheet
Never give dogs coffee and caffeine.
If dogs eat some, don't wait. Call right away, even if they seem fine.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435, 24 hours. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-ups included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Your own vet knows your dog. Dogs differ.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline: Caffeine (checked October 29, 2026)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Caffeine Toxicity in Pets (checked October 29, 2026)