Is caffeine toxic to dogs? Coffee, tea, pills

Is caffeine toxic to dogs?

Yes, depending on the amount. Caffeine overstimulates a dog's heart and nervous system, and signs are expected from about 20 mg per kg of body weight, which is 200 mg for a 10 kg dog. A lick of coffee is unlikely to matter, but coffee grounds, beans, tea bags, energy drinks and caffeine tablets are far stronger than a brewed cup. Call your vet now with the product and amount.

Written by the Pativo team · Updated 14 November 2026

General information, not veterinary advice. If your pet may have eaten this, contact a vet now; do not wait for signs.

Go to an emergency clinic now if

Your dog ate caffeine tablets, diet or pre-workout supplements, or energy shots

Your dog ate coffee grounds, beans, pods or tea bags

Your dog has a racing or irregular heartbeat or is extremely restless

Your dog is trembling, has a seizure or collapses

The product also contained chocolate, xylitol or alcohol

Who to call

Your own vet first. If they are closed, the nearest emergency or out-of-hours clinic.

In the United States

Both answer 24 hours a day and may charge a consultation fee.

How Pativo rates this

Depends on the amount; call a vet today

1Nothing alarmingWatch at home

2Worth watchingMonitor for a few days

3See a vet soonWithin 48 hours

4See a vet todayWithin 24 hours

5EmergencyGo now

This is the level the app answers with before it knows the amount. It comes from the app's own poison list, which runs on your phone.

Signs to watch for

Sign	Usually starts
Restlessness, hyperactivity, pacing	Within a few hours
Vomiting, diarrhoea	Within a few hours
Increased thirst and urination	Within a few hours
Racing heart, high blood pressure	Within a few hours
Tremors, loss of coordination	Within a few hours, larger doses
Seizures, collapse	Larger doses; signs can last several days

Why is caffeine toxic to dogs?

Caffeine is a methylxanthine, the same family of stimulants as theobromine in chocolate. It speeds up the heart, raises blood pressure and overstimulates the brain and muscles. Pet Poison Helpline notes that dogs appear to be more sensitive to caffeine than people, and VCA Animal Hospitals warns that it can damage the liver, heart, kidneys and nervous system at high doses.

How much caffeine is dangerous for a dog?

Veterinary references give these levels for caffeine and theobromine in dogs: mild signs at about 20 mg per kg of body weight, severe signs at 40 to 50 mg per kg, and seizures at 60 mg per kg. Pet Poison Helpline uses a similar baseline of 9 mg per pound. Pativo uses 20 mg per kg as the level where signs are expected.

Dog weight	Caffeine at 20 mg/kg (signs expected)	Caffeine at 40 mg/kg (severe signs)
5 kg	100 mg	200 mg
10 kg	200 mg	400 mg
20 kg	400 mg	800 mg
30 kg	600 mg	1,200 mg

The US Food and Drug Administration gives these typical caffeine contents for drinks:

Drink	Caffeine
Brewed coffee, 12 fl oz (355 mL)	113-247 mg
Energy drink, 16 fl oz (473 mL)	54-328 mg
Energy drink, 12 fl oz	41-246 mg
Black tea, 12 fl oz	71 mg
Cola and other caffeinated soft drinks, 12 fl oz	23-83 mg
Decaf coffee, 8 fl oz	2-15 mg

So a 5 kg dog that drinks half of a strong 12 oz coffee could reach the 20 mg per kg level. These figures are approximate, and products vary widely, so read the label where you can.

In practice, most serious cases come from concentrated sources rather than drinks. Pet Poison Helpline warns that unused coffee grounds or beans, tea bags and supplements can cause serious poisoning, and VCA notes that one or two caffeine tablets can kill a small dog. Other sources include coffee pods, chocolate-covered coffee beans, pre-workout and weight-loss products, energy shots, some cold and pain remedies, and coffee liqueurs.

What will the vet do?

If your dog has no signs and the caffeine was eaten recently, the vet may make your dog vomit and give activated charcoal. Intravenous fluids help the kidneys clear caffeine, and the vet may give medicines to control a racing or irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, tremors or seizures.

Pet Poison Helpline notes that mild cases may spend the day in hospital, while severe cases need a few days. VCA says the outlook depends on the amount, the dog's size and its health: a large, healthy young dog usually does better than a small, older dog with kidney problems. Large ingestions can be fatal without treatment.

How do I stop it happening again?

Empty coffee machines and dispose of used grounds and pods in a bin with a lid.
Keep coffee beans, tea bags and pods in closed cupboards.
Store caffeine tablets and sports supplements with your medicines, not in gym bags on the floor.
Do not leave mugs or energy drink cans on low tables.

Chocolate contains caffeine as well as theobromine: see chocolate in dogs. For signs that need a clinic immediately, see emergency signs.

Questions owners ask

My dog licked my coffee. Should I worry?

Pet Poison Helpline says one or two licks of coffee, tea or soda is unlikely to poison most pets. Watch for restlessness, and call your vet if your dog drank more or seems unwell.

Are used coffee grounds safe?

No. Used grounds are not caffeine-free, and Pet Poison Helpline warns that unused grounds and beans can cause serious poisoning. Treat any amount of grounds eaten by a small dog as a reason to call the vet now.

Is decaf coffee safe for dogs?

Decaf contains much less caffeine, about 2 to 15 mg per 8 oz cup according to the US FDA, so a small amount is unlikely to poison a dog. It is still not a suitable drink, and milk and sugar can upset the stomach.