Dog has eaten coffee, tea, or caffeine
Caffeine is highly toxic to dogs — phone the vet for any meaningful ingestion of coffee, tea, energy drinks, or caffeine pills.
In the next 60 seconds
- Phone vet or Animal PoisonLine.
- Note product, amount, time.
Recognise the signs
- Restlessness, hyperactivity
- Vomiting
- Fast heart rate, abnormal rhythm
- Tremors, twitching
- Seizures, collapse
First aid steps
- Phone vet or Animal PoisonLine.
- Note product, amount, time.
Do NOT
- Do not delay — caffeine acts fast.
- Do not induce vomiting at home unless told to.
While transporting to the vet
- Bring packaging.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Any known ingestion in meaningful amounts
- Tremors, fast heart rate, seizures
Common causes
- Coffee grounds, beans, ground coffee
- Tea bags
- Energy drinks
- Caffeine pills (high dose)
- Chocolate-covered espresso beans
What the vet will need to know
- Caffeine source and concentration
- Amount
- Dog's weight
Aftercare
- Decontamination, IV fluids, anti-arrhythmic and anti-seizure medication as needed.
- Hospitalisation 12-24 hours.
Prevention
- No caffeine sources accessible.
- Empty mugs out of reach.
- Bin discipline for grounds and bags.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is dangerous?
Roughly 9mg per kg starts to cause problems; 19mg/kg+ is severe. A single espresso (~80mg) is risky for a small dog.
Are coffee grounds worse than brewed coffee?
Yes — concentrated. Tea bags less so but still problematic.
Energy drinks?
High caffeine + sugar + sometimes other stimulants. Treat as urgent.