Vet reveals if you can share a cup of tea with your pet

It’s been reported that the UK population consumes an estimated over 100 million cups of tea every single day, and as a nation of pet lovers, the question is, can you share a cuppa with your pet? 

PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh shares her advice for tea and animal lovers alike:  

“Whilst we may want to give in to ‘puppy dog eyes’ and share a bit of our cups of tea with our pets, unfortunately it is not the best idea.  

“Tea contains caffeine, which pets can’t process well, and can be harmful. Pets are highly sensitive to caffeine, and it can quickly reach toxic levels in their systems. 

"Drinking tea could cause symptoms like vomiting, restlessness, a high heart rate and in severe cases, coma or even death.  

"Pets have no need for caffeine in their diets, so it’s safest to avoid giving them tea altogether. If your pet accidentally consumes tea, coffee, or any caffeinated item, contact your vet as soon as you can, and seek their advice.  

“While decaf tea has less caffeine, it does still contain levels of it, and just like a regular cup of tea, is not ideal for pets. 

“Adding milk doesn’t make tea any safer for pets. For many pets, milk alone could cause an upset stomach, so it’s also worth avoiding.  

“Not forgetting, the calories in milk and the biscuit that remains from being dunked in tea, can add weight to our pets, even just the small amounts will add up over time.  

“The best advice we can give is to stick to pet-safe treats if you want to give your pet something tasty, rather than letting your pet have any of your cup of tea. Do always remember treats should be 10% of your pet’s daily food allowance, so while you have your cuppa and a biscuit, your pet can have their daily treat allowance. 

“You may be thinking, most herbal teas don’t contain caffeine, which means you could share a cup of herbal tea with your pet; however, many herbs can be toxic to dogs, and each blend can vary greatly in ingredients. 

"For example, some herbal teas contain certain plants or additives that can upset a pet’s stomach or lead to more serious issues. To be safe, we always advise keeping the cuppas to yourself, no matter what tea you’re drinking.  

"There are plenty of other pet-safe ways to provide a tasty comfort to your pet, without the risks associated with tea. When it comes to drinks for your pets, ensure they always have constant access to fresh, clean water, as that will keep them nicely hydrated." 

For more advice, or tips, head to PDSA's Pet Health Hub: www.pdsa.org.uk/phh