Can dogs eat caffeine?

Updated 2026-08-07 · Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · Free · No sign-up

No — caffeine is toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 now.

If your dog may have eaten something harmful, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right now — don't wait for symptoms. A consultation fee may apply to the ASPCA hotline.

Verdict for dogs	Toxic
Severity	5 / 5 — Emergency — can be fatal, and small amounts can matter. Call now.
Safe amount	None
Category	Drinks
Source	ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high

Why

Caffeine is a methylxanthine stimulant. Energy drinks, caffeine tablets and pre-workout powders are far more concentrated than a cup of coffee, and pills are the worst case. Signs include restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures.

Signs to watch for if your dog has eaten caffeine

Vomiting and diarrhea
Restlessness, hyperactivity or pacing
Panting, excessive thirst and urination
A fast or irregular heartbeat
Muscle tremors or seizures

Signs can lag by a day or more, so no symptoms does not mean your dog is clear — call rather than watch.

What to do now

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 straight away. Tell them what your dog ate, roughly how much, and when, and take the packaging with you. Don't wait for symptoms — with several poisons the harm is done before a pet looks ill.

Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.

Safer alternatives for dogs

Plain baby carrots or carrot sticks
Plain cooked chicken breast — no skin, no bones, no seasoning
A few blueberries or a slice of apple with the core removed
Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
Plain green beans, fresh or frozen

What about cats?

Can cats eat caffeine? — Toxic for cats.

This page is a reference, not veterinary advice or a diagnosis. Verdicts are transcribed from the cited source, never inferred, and a finding in one species is never copied onto the other. How we source and decide a verdict.