Dog Ate Coffee Grounds or Caffeine Pills: How Much Is Toxic

Coffee grounds, beans, caffeine pills and energy drinks can poison a dog within hours. Toxic levels by weight, warning signs and what to do now.

Quick answer: If your dog ate coffee grounds or beans, a tea bag, an energy drink or a caffeine pill, call a poison line or emergency vet now, before signs appear. Pet Poison Helpline says about 9 mg of caffeine per pound can poison a dog, and some react to less, so one 200 mg pill can poison a 20-pound dog. Restlessness, tremors or a racing heart mean an emergency vet now.

Poison lines: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply) or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). Both poison lines take calls every day, including holidays. Have the package or label, the product's strength, how much may be missing, the time and your dog's weight ready. If your dog already shows any sign, drive to an emergency vet and call on the way. If a hotline fee would stop you from calling, go straight to an emergency vet.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you think your pet is in danger, go to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Is coffee poisonous to dogs?

Yes, coffee and caffeine are poisonous to dogs: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center groups them with chocolate because all three contain methylxanthines, which the Merck Veterinary Manual says overstimulate a dog's nervous system, heart and muscles. Pet Poison Helpline says small dogs are affected more than large dogs, and that dogs and cats appear more sensitive to caffeine than people.

Signs of caffeine poisoning and how fast they start

Pet Poison Helpline says signs of caffeine poisoning in dogs usually start 1 to 2 hours after eating it and can last from 12 hours to several days, beginning with restlessness, hyperactivity, vomiting and a fast heart rate and, in severe cases, tremors, seizures and collapse. The ASPCA adds panting and heavy thirst. VCA says signs can start within a few hours. Chocolate signs can start within 1 to 4 hours or take 6 to 12 hours, so a dog that looks normal is not in the clear, especially after chocolate-covered coffee beans or a mocha.

Signs of caffeine poisoning and what to do

Sign	What it means	Do this
Ate it, looks normal	Not cleared yet	Poison line now
Restless, panting	Early sign	ER now, call on way
Vomiting, thirst	Early sign	ER now
Racing heart, tremors	Serious	ER now
Overheated, stiff	Serious	ER now
Seizure, collapse	Emergency	ER, call ahead
Dark vomit, black stool	Possible bleeding	ER now

Signs from Pet Poison Helpline and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

An irregular heartbeat, pale or blue gums, trouble breathing or diarrhea after caffeine also mean the ER now. Vomit that looks like coffee grounds can be digested blood, and after coffee the two can't be told apart at home, so any dark vomit, or black, tarry stool, means the ER now.

What to do right now if your dog ate caffeine

If a dog ate caffeine, call a poison line or an emergency vet now, even if the dog seems fine, and do not wait for signs; if the dog already shows any sign, drive to an emergency vet and call on the way. The Merck Veterinary Manual says early decontamination can reduce how severe the signs get, so call even if a few hours have passed.

1. Remove what's left, including spilled grounds, open pods and loose pills.
2. Keep the package, pod, can or bottle; the label shows the strength.
3. Note the time, how much may be missing and your dog's weight.
4. Give nothing by mouth, not even water, milk, food, activated charcoal or any calming aid, unless a vet or poison line tells you to.

Then check the label for a second poison:

• Xylitol. Xylitol, birch sugar or wood sugar in a sugar-free creamer, syrup, energy drink, gum or mint, or a label you can't read in full, means an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine. See how to check a sugar-free label for xylitol.
• Pain relievers. Some headache, cold and flu pills pair caffeine with a pain reliever or decongestant: call a poison line now with the bottle, and see which human pain relievers are dangerous for dogs.
• Alcohol. An energy-drink cocktail or a coffee liqueur means an emergency vet now; read what to do if your dog drank alcohol.
• Other stimulants. A possible prescription stimulant, such as ADHD medicine, or a pouch that might hold nicotine instead of caffeine means an emergency vet now.

How much caffeine is toxic to a dog?

Pet Poison Helpline says about 9 mg of caffeine per pound of a dog's body weight can cause poisoning, in line with the 20 mg per kilogram level the Merck Veterinary Manual gives for methylxanthines, the family that includes caffeine. Merck puts heart effects at about 18 to 23 mg a pound and seizures at about 27 mg a pound or more, and adds that severe signs and death can happen at much lower amounts and that dogs vary. These are not safe limits.

Where caffeine signs can begin, by dog weight

Dog weight	Mild signs	Heart signs
5 lb	about 45 mg	90-115 mg
10 lb	about 90 mg	180-230 mg
20 lb	about 180 mg	360-460 mg
40 lb	about 360 mg	720-920 mg
60 lb	about 540 mg	1,080-1,380 mg
80 lb	about 720 mg	1,440-1,840 mg

Approximate caffeine at which signs can begin, not safe limits. Seizures can start from about 27 mg a pound, and some dogs react to much less.

Which is worst: pills, powders, grounds, beans, pods, tea or energy drinks?

Concentrated caffeine is the most dangerous for a dog: VCA says one or two caffeine pills can be fatal for small dogs and cats, and Pet Poison Helpline says coffee grounds and beans can cause severe poisoning because their caffeine is concentrated. One 200 mg caffeine pill is above the level where signs can start in a 20-pound dog and inside the heart-effect range for a 10-pound dog, so any swallowed caffeine pill, diet pill, energy shot or supplement means a poison-line call now, and a small dog or puppy needs the ER now.

Caffeine sources: how strong, and what to do

Caffeine source	How strong	Do this
Caffeine or diet pills	100-200 mg or more	Poison line now; small dog: ER now
Workout powder	Very high	Poison line now; small dog: ER now
Energy drinks	54-328 mg per 16 oz	Poison line now
Energy drink + alcohol	Two poisons	ER now
Beans in chocolate	Caffeine + chocolate	Poison line now
Beans, dry grounds	High	Poison line now
Used grounds	Lower, not zero	Poison line now
Pods, filters	Caffeine + blockage	In-person vet now; call poison line
Tea bags	Moderate; string	Poison line; string: ER now
Brewed coffee cup	113-247 mg per 12 oz	Poison line now
Lick or two, brewed	Low	Watch; puppy or toy: poison line
Decaf, brewed	2-15 mg per 8 oz	Watch; check add-ins
Sugar-free creamer, syrup	May hold xylitol	ER now

Over-the-counter caffeine pills are labeled at 100 to 200 mg of caffeine; supplements, pre-workout powders and pure caffeine products can hold much more. Energy drink, brewed coffee and decaf figures: FDA.

Chocolate-covered espresso beans: two poisons in one bite

Chocolate-covered espresso beans give a dog chocolate's theobromine on top of the bean's caffeine, a double threat in VCA's words, so call a poison line now for any amount and tell them the number of beans and the type of chocolate. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives theobromine a half-life in dogs of about 17.5 hours, compared with about 4.5 hours for caffeine, so chocolate signs can last longer, and Merck says severe chocolate cases can last up to 72 hours.

Should you make your dog vomit at home after caffeine?

No, do not make a dog vomit at home after caffeine unless a veterinarian or poison line tells you to. Pet Poison Helpline advises owners not to induce vomiting, or give any treatment, before calling the helpline or getting veterinary guidance. Induced vomiting is risky in a dog that is already restless, trembling, vomiting or seizing, because vomit can be inhaled into the lungs, and a cat should never be made to vomit at home. Learn when making a dog throw up helps and when it harms.

What the vet does in person

Treatment for caffeine poisoning in a dog is supportive, the Merck Veterinary Manual says: the vet decontaminates when it is safe, gives IV fluids, controls heart rate, tremors and seizures, and monitors heart rhythm with an ECG, plus electrolytes and body temperature. Merck adds a urinary catheter for a dog that cannot walk, and Pet Poison Helpline says caffeine can be reabsorbed across the bladder wall, so hospital staff keep the bladder empty.

VCA says to expect a hospital stay through the day for mild cases and possibly a few days for severe ones. Pet Poison Helpline says the outlook is excellent with mild signs and poor with collapse and seizures.

My dog only licked or sipped my coffee: is that an emergency?

One or two licks of plain brewed coffee, tea or soda is unlikely to poison most dogs, Pet Poison Helpline says, though it can upset the stomach, so watch at home. Call a poison line now if the dog drank more, got espresso, cold brew or an energy drink, or is a puppy, toy breed, senior or dog with heart disease, kidney problems or a history of seizures. The FDA says a 12-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee has 113 to 247 mg of caffeine, more than the roughly 90 mg at which signs can start in a 10-pound dog. During a home watch, any restlessness, vomiting, a racing heart or tremors means an emergency vet now.

Decaf is not caffeine-free: the FDA says decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup. A sugar-free creamer or syrup that may hold xylitol means an emergency vet now.

Can cats drink coffee or eat coffee grounds?

No, a cat should not drink coffee or eat coffee grounds: any grounds, tea bag, caffeine pill or energy drink in a cat means a poison line or emergency vet now, because Pet Poison Helpline says cats appear more sensitive to caffeine than people. VCA warns that one or two caffeine pills can be fatal for cats. Never make a cat vomit at home, and a pill that also contains acetaminophen means a poison line or emergency vet now.

Used coffee grounds, compost, pods and other hidden sources

Used coffee grounds still contain caffeine and can still poison a dog, so grounds spread on garden beds, in compost or in the trash need the same poison-line call as fresh grounds. A 2012 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found substantial caffeine left in used espresso grounds.

A swallowed plastic or foil pod or a paper filter means an in-person vet now for the blockage risk, plus a poison-line call about the caffeine; a tea bag swallowed with its string means the ER now, even with no signs. See the signs of an intestinal blockage in dogs.

VCA also lists gum, cold medicines, some herbal supplements, coffee-flavored ice cream and coffee liqueurs as caffeine sources. Keep grounds in a lidded trash can or a closed compost bin; pods, pills and workout powders in a closed cabinet; and cups off low tables.

When a RexVet video visit helps, and when it does not

A dog that ate coffee grounds, coffee beans or a caffeine pill needs a poison line or an emergency vet first, and a video visit with RexVet, a nonprofit online vet service, fits only after that call.

RexVet serves pets located in Florida, New York and Virginia by video visit. A $64.99 live video visit is with a licensed RexVet vet, a veterinarian licensed in your pet's state, and your pet must be in that state during the visit. A video visit cannot empty the stomach, give IV fluids, run an ECG or control seizures.

After that first call, a visit can fit when:

• your dog had a lick or sip, the poison line said to watch at home, and you have questions;
• your dog is home from the ER and you want to go over the discharge plan the next day, alongside the ER's care, not instead of it;
• mild loose stool, or restlessness that has fully settled, was already checked by a poison line or ER that advised watching at home;
• you want a plan to keep grounds, pods, tea bags and pills out of reach.

Live slots run about 8 AM to 11 PM ET. During a home watch, any return of restlessness, a racing heart or tremors means an emergency vet now, not a video slot.

No prescription is promised; a dog that needs heart-rhythm or seizure medicine after caffeine needs hospital care, and the state prescription limits are in the FAQ below. RexVet is not a pharmacy; a pharmacy transfer fee applies if a prescription is sent to an outside pharmacy.

If your dog fits one of these, book a live video visit.

Need an Expert Opinion on This Topic?

Book a video visit with a licensed vet, evenings and weekends included

See open times

Licensed Veterinarian

Secure Video Calls

Frequently Asked Questions

My dog ate coffee grounds. What should I do right now?

Call a pet poison line or an emergency vet now, even if your dog seems fine. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply) and Pet Poison Helpline is (855) 764-7661 (a per-incident fee applies). If your dog is already restless, trembling or vomiting, drive to an emergency vet and call on the way. Keep the package, and don't make your dog vomit unless told to.

How much caffeine is toxic to a dog?

About 9 mg of caffeine per pound of body weight can cause poisoning, Pet Poison Helpline says, and the Merck Veterinary Manual adds that severe signs can happen at much lower amounts and that dogs vary. That is about 90 mg for a 10-pound dog. These are not safe limits, so call a poison line about any caffeine pill or more than a lick or two of coffee, and take a small dog or puppy that swallowed a caffeine pill to an emergency vet now.

How long does caffeine poisoning last in dogs?

From 12 hours to several days, Pet Poison Helpline says, and signs usually start within 1 to 2 hours. After chocolate-covered coffee beans or a mocha, chocolate's theobromine can make signs start later and last longer. Call now rather than waiting for signs.

My dog licked my coffee. Will he be OK?

Usually yes: one or two licks of coffee, tea or soda is unlikely to poison most dogs, Pet Poison Helpline says. That covers only plain brewed coffee in a healthy adult dog of medium or large size; any restlessness, vomiting, racing heart or tremors means an emergency vet now. Call a poison line for more than a lick or two, or for a puppy, toy breed or senior, and go to an emergency vet now if a sugar-free creamer may contain xylitol.

My dog drank an energy drink. What should I do?

Call a pet poison line now, and drive to an emergency vet if your dog shows any sign. The FDA says energy drinks generally have 54 to 328 mg of caffeine per 16 ounces. A sugar-free drink that may contain xylitol, or one mixed with alcohol, means an emergency vet now. Bring the can so the label can be read.

Can an online vet help if my dog ate coffee and we live in Florida, New York or Virginia?

Not at first: a dog that ate caffeine needs a poison line or emergency vet now; a video visit fits only after that call. Stomach emptying, IV fluids, ECG monitoring and seizure control need a hospital. For a pet located in Florida, New York or Virginia, a licensed RexVet vet can then look at your dog's energy, breathing, gum color and behavior on video and go over a poison line's home-watch plan for a dog that is fully normal, or an ER discharge plan. Any sign during a home watch, or signs that come back, mean an emergency vet now, not a video slot. No prescription is promised, and a dog that needs heart-rhythm or seizure medicine after caffeine needs hospital care. Florida law (s. 474.2021) limits a prescription based only on a telehealth visit to FDA-approved animal drugs used as labeled, for up to 14 days (up to 1 month for products labeled solely for flea and tick control). It cannot be renewed without an in-person exam, and human-labeled drugs, compounded anti-infectives and controlled substances need an in-person exam first. Virginia allows the exam to be electronic, and New York's telehealth prescribing rules are not settled. In every state, federal rules (21 CFR 530.3) require an in-person exam before off-label or human-drug use.