Can dogs drink hops?
If she already ate some, call now. Don’t wait for signs.
Call your vet, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661. Both answer 24/7 and charge a fee.
What to do if your dog ate hops
Get her to a vet or emergency clinic right away if she has any signs. If she just ate hops and seems fine, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 now. Don't wait for symptoms, and don't try to make her vomit at home.
No, hops are toxic to dogs and can trigger a dangerously high, fast-rising body temperature.
Raw, cooked and other forms of hops
- ToxicDried hop flowers, plugs and pellets ASPCA says the form doesn't matter. Pet Poison Helpline notes plugs tend to be more toxic than pellets.
- ToxicSpent hops (left over after brewing) Still harmful, per ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline. A common home-brew danger.
Why hops is toxic to dogs
The toxic principle isn't known. Pet Poison Helpline says it may involve nitrogen-containing compounds in the plant. The danger is a rapid, life-threatening rise in body temperature.
Signs to watch for after she eats hops
High body temperature (above 102.5°F is dangerous; above 107°F is life-threatening, per ASPCA), heavy panting or fast breathing, racing heart, restlessness or agitation, vomiting or diarrhea, and seizures. Signs can start about 30 minutes after she eats them, rarely as late as 8 hours. It can be fatal.
Sources: ASPCA: Dogs + Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Hops Toxicity, Pet Poison Helpline: Hops
Reviewed by Adam Polosetski, DVM · Oct 20, 2026
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