Nothing beats the comfort that a cup of tea provides while snuggled up in a bed. It even helps you fight some diseases and keep tiredness away. But does it do the same to dogs? Can dogs drink tea? Is it good for them?
Yes, dogs can drink tea, but the non-caffeinated form as caffeine is harmful to dogs. Licking a little bit from your tea won’t get them sick.
There are many kinds of tea available in the market. Everybody loves how much warmth it gives to the body after a cold winter walk.
This hot drink came into existence with the intention of human food. But being a dog owner, it is hard to resist their pup face. So, you decide to offer them some of your tea.
This article will solve all your queries about whether the tea is good for dogs or not? What kinds are safe, and all other queries related to it.
Tea For Dogs – Is It A Good Idea?
Not all kinds of tea are suitable for dogs. But if we talk about non-caffeinated tea, then yes, dogs can have tea. If you let your dog slurp a little bit from your tea, it won’t harm them.
Like every other human food, tea is also not suitable to feed very frequently. According to research, 5 cups of tea in a day is when it reaches a toxic level for your dog.
Make sure the tea isn’t too hot for your dog. If you can easily sip it, it will be okay for your dog too.
What Type Of Tea Dogs Can’t Have?
It is safe to say that dogs can drink tea, but it shouldn’t have caffeine in it. We crave it at the start of our day but don’t ever think of giving it to your dogs as it is highly toxic for them.
Our bodies can tolerate a large amount of caffeine. This isn’t true for dogs as it can complicate their health. Coffee is one such drink that has the highest amount of caffeine in it, followed by tea.
Symptoms Of Caffeine Ingestion In Dogs:
If you sense that your dog might have come in contact with your caffeinated tea. Look for the following symptoms:
- Hyperactivity
- Restlessness
- High blood pressure
- Fever
- Panting
- Vomiting
Caffeine tends to increase heart rate. This is why we feel instantly awake. But this increased heart rate causes dogs to become hyperactive, resulting in pacing. You will also notice that your dog is barking excessively.
As caffeine affects the gastrointestinal tract, it causes vomiting. If your dog has vomited, it is a good symptom because it has helped remove the toxins from their body.
You read that caffeine causes high blood pressure. It can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, which can be dangerous. It can also cause kidney, lungs, and central nervous system problems.
In serious cases, dogs may lose their muscle control leading to tremors and seizures. It may also cause them to fall into a coma that can result in death.
If your dog has ingested caffeine, you will see the symptoms within 30 minutes. It can even stretch up to 2 hours. The degree of severity of symptoms depends upon the amount of caffeine your dog intakes.
The amount varies from puppies to adult dogs, but more than 9gm per pound is toxic.
Keep your caffeinated products at a safe distance from your pet. You do not want them to ingest these toxic substances and get sick.
Is Tea With Milk And Sugar A Good Idea For Dogs?
Dogs can drink tea but not this one. Both milk and sugar are harmful to dogs. Artificial sweeteners and granulated sugar both can cause diabetes and obesity in dogs.
Dogs love sweet treats like marshmallows. But it is not safe for them to eat artificially sweetened products. If you wish to crave their sweet tooth, try adding sugar obtained from natural sources. These sources can be fruits.
If you have added artificial sugar to your tea, make sure it doesn’t have xylitol. This ingredient is extremely poisonous for dogs and can lead to death.
Another ingredient is milk and is also not a good option. Because milk contains lactose, and dogs are lactose-intolerant.
Ensure that you give lactose-free and fat-reduced milk. Like you would prefer almond milk. Otherwise, it will cause digestive upsets.
Can Dogs Have Honey In Their Tea?
Honey for an adult dog isn’t a problem. But if your dog is less than 3 months, it could be a problem. Also, if your dog has a problem with their immune system, it will be harmful to them.
Raw honey contains botulism spores. It isn’t safe for puppies or dogs with a compromised immune system.
Honey has a high amount of sugar in it. Even though it is a natural product, it can affect their health if given regularly. Consumption of too much sugar can also cause dental cavities.
What Types Of Tea Are Best For Dogs?
As we addressed your query, can dogs drink tea or not. You now know that caffeinated tea is a complete no for dogs.
But if that’s the case, then which type is good for them?
Herbal tea, yes, you read it right! This is the best thing you can ever do for your dog. Such type of tea is rich in antioxidants and will boost the immune system of your pet.
Let’s sneak into types of herbal teas and their benefits:
1. Chamomile Tea:
Chamomile tea is made from chamomile daisy-like flowers. It helps treat a wide range of health issues. Not only humans but dogs can benefit from it too.
- It helps to ease the digestion process.
- Reduces anxiety
- Promotes better and longer sleep durations
To make this tea, you will need a teaspoon of chamomile flowers and boil them in water for 15 minutes. If you are running short on the clock, buy chamomile tea bags instead.
2. Peppermint Tea:
It is an aromatic herb that is a cross between watermint and spearmint. Peppermint leaves are used to make tea, which has a lot of health benefits:
- It helps to relieve digestive issues like bloating and indigestion.
- The cooling effect of peppermint leaves soothes stomach ache.
- Relieves migraines and headaches
- Better concentration over things
- Better sleep
- Promotes weight loss
- Creates immunity against bacteria
- Relieves muscle contraction and spasms in the gut.
These benefits are not only for dogs but humans too. Herbal teas are a better option when it comes to getting relaxed.
It is pretty easy and quick to make peppermint tea at home. All you need to do is boil a handful of peppermint leaves in 1 cup of water for five minutes. After that, strain the tea and offer it to your dog and enjoy yourselves too.
Ensure the tea is in lukewarm condition as you do not want your dog’s throat to get burnt. Other leafy herbs like basil and cilantro are also a good option for adding to your dog’s diet.
3. Ginger Tea:
Ginger tea comprises of dried or fresh ginger boiled in hot water for a few minutes. This process allows for the vital nutrients of ginger to infuse in the water.
This tea is slightly spicy in taste. If your dog is not familiar with the taste, try giving it occasionally, once or twice a week. It has the following health benefits:
- Reduces blood pressure
- Promotes weight loss
- Helps in preventing pancreatic and colon cancer
- Enhances immunity system
- Treats skin diseases
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. If your adult dog is experiencing joint pains, ginger tea will help them.
But since it is anti-inflammatory, it can cause blood thinning. We advise that you shouldn’t feed ginger if they have to undergo any surgery.
Apart from herbal teas, there are a few other options that you can also give to your dog. Have a look at them below:
4. Green Tea:
Green tea is made from the leaves of the plant “Camellia Sinensis. The decaffeinated version of green tea is the best choice for dogs.
It can improve your dog’s health if consumed regularly as it is rich in antioxidants. It has the following benefits:
- Reduces the risk of cancer
- Kills bacteria that lowers the rate of infection
- Boosts the immunity system
- Cures flu
According to research, green tea helped reduce the large size of lymph nodes. That, too, in a 7-year old Labrador when fed several times a day. The dog didn’t respond to antibiotics and other medical treatments.
So you see, what wonders can green tea do to your dog!
If you have a small dog like a 1/8th cup, two times a day is enough for them. If you have a larger breed like a German Shepherd, 1 cup after every meal is more than enough.
Final Words:
After reading this article, you got your answer to the question can dogs drink tea. Now, you are even familiar with the types of tea which are safe for your dog.
You can easily find teabags of your choice in the market. If you wish to make it on your own, we just told you how you could do it at home.
You need to be careful and remove the teabag as they might choke on it. The only thing you need to keep a check on is the dosage. Make sure that your dog does not consume more than they require.
Animals do not know what is best for them. It is our responsibility of a pet owner to keep a check on what they consume while roaming around the house. Therefore, it is necessary to set their dosage after consulting with a vet.
