| Verdict for dogs | Don't feed |
| Severity | 3 / 5 — Risky — more than a taste can cause real illness. |
| Safe amount | None |
| Category | Drinks |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: high |
Colas and energy sodas contain caffeine — a methylxanthine that is genuinely toxic in quantity — plus a lot of sugar and carbonation that causes bloating. Diet versions may be sweetened with xylitol in some products, so check. Water is the only drink a dog needs.
Don't feed it. If your dog has already eaten some, call your vet or poison control with the amount and the timing and follow their advice.
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.
Can cats eat soda and soft drinks? — Don't feed it to cats either.
No — soda and soft drinks should not be given to dogs. If yours has already eaten some, call your vet. Colas and energy sodas contain caffeine — a methylxanthine that is genuinely toxic in quantity — plus a lot of sugar and carbonation that causes bloating. Diet versions may be sweetened with xylitol in some products, so check. Water is the only drink a dog needs.
Watch for: Vomiting and diarrhea; Restlessness, hyperactivity or pacing; Panting, excessive thirst and urination; A fast or irregular heartbeat; Muscle tremors or seizures. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
More than a taste can cause real illness, and the risk rises with the amount and with a smaller pet. The safe amount is none — if your dog has had more, call your vet.