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My dog drank a mocha coffee. Is the caffeine or cocoa toxic?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Our Shepard mix drank about a 12 oz cup of mocha cappuccino coffee drink. It has Dutched cocoa powder in it. Is this poisonous to the dog?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on May 1st, 2017

Oh dear! You're right that cocoa powder can certainly be toxic to dogs; coffee can as well, since they don't tolerate caffeine very well. But the good news is, I would not expect a single prepackaged coffee drink like this to contain enough of either one to cause any serious toxicity issues in a large-breed dog.

It's possible that he may have some mild stomach upset if he isn't used to eating things like this, but otherwise I would not expect to see any serious problems. To be safe, it would be best to monitor him for the next 12 hours for any signs of toxicity - which would include repeated episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, restlessness or hyperactivity, muscle tremors, or even seizures. If you see anything that concerns you, you can always take him to the vet to be checked.
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