Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. No waiting for appointments or office hours. No high fees. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Many pet parents enjoy a cup of espresso! What’s not to love? This type of coffee provides a jolt of energy that will definitely get you through the day! But what happens if a dog drinks espresso?
Has your dog drunk espresso? Are you worried the espresso will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog drinks something like this.
In this article, we’ll take a look at espresso and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is an Espresso?
Espresso is a highly concentrated type of coffee that’s served in small cups, sometimes called shots. It’s made with a special espresso machine, with pressurized hot water that runs over finely ground coffee beans. This type of coffee is very strong compared to a regular cup of joe!
Just for comparison, the caffeine in an 8 oz cup of coffee is about 95 milligrams. Just one ounce of espresso contains 64 milligrams of caffeine! That’s a huge difference!
Espresso is made with the same type of coffee beans used for other types of coffee. The only difference is that espresso coffee beans are more finely ground, to make the drink stronger. The flavor of espresso has been described as a little bitter and a little sweet, acidy and warm.
While humans can safely enjoy espresso, what about dogs? Will espresso make a dog sick?
Espresso & Dogs
Espresso and any type of coffee are toxic to dogs. The problem is caused by the caffeine in coffee. The levels of caffeine are even higher in espresso.

Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Caffeine Toxicity in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has drunk espresso:
- Hyperactivity
- Shaking
- Panting
- Agitation
- Nervousness
- Hypertension
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hypothermia
- Seizures
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, then call the vet immediately. This is an emergency. Don’t wait to see if your dog’s symptoms improve or worsen. Caffeine toxicity can lead to death if untreated.
Treatment of caffeine toxicity is usually very successful; however, it will depend on how much espresso the dog has ingested and how soon the dog is treated for caffeine toxicity.
The good news is that most dogs who receive prompt treatment will make a full recovery! So, be sure to get your fur baby to the vet ASAP! His life could depend on it!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. No waiting for appointments or office hours. No high fees. No need to worry about your furry family member.

Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now