Last Updated on
Green tea is super healthy with the antioxidants being especially excellent!
Yet, this doesn’t necessarily mean pets should be drinking it.
You have to be careful about giving your dog anything that contains caffeine.
While the amount in green tea is relatively low, it is reason enough to be cautious and conservative.
Only Give Your Dog Small Serving of Green Tea
This brew has some amazing attributes, but it is not totally conclusive if the benefits carry over to animals.
In any case, a small amount won’t harm your dog.
Do try to get a quality all-natural decaffeinated green tea as that would be the safest way to share.
And even then, you have to be realistic. It won’t work miracles.
You certainly can’t depend on Green tea to help your dog with an existing medical problem.
Valuable For The Antioxidants
The truth is Green tea (AKA Camelia sinensis) may or may not be worthwhile to add to your pet’s diet — again it’s not clear either way.
Some say this herb can reduce urine and feces odors. That’s debatable and evidence is lacking!
What is certain is that green tea contains powerful antioxidants.
Are there benefits to be had, particularly for older dogs?
Quite possibly!
Arthritis is so common among canines and antioxidants often help. It’s worth a shot if you feel strongly about trying it.
More Debatable Health Benefits
Green teas, as well as other herbal teas, may lower heart disease risk and reduce high blood pressure.
But, the question becomes, how to you know that your dog needs this type of help?
In any case, green tea may also be useful for:
- Diabetes
- Weight loss
- Strengthening the immune system
- Eliminating free radicals
- Disease prevention (including cancer)
Sounds great!
But you should also be aware of some downsides when it comes to dogs…
Results of An Alarming Study
The ASPCA is cautious about pet parents giving green tea.
And a study carried out on 32 Beagles ended prematurely due to 16 deaths.
You read that right!
The dogs consumed polyphenolic catechins (PPE) – a concentrated extract. High doses, on empty stomachs, caused most of them to die within weeks.
Thankfully there is no need to panic because you’d be giving your dog a milder form a green tea.
Moderation is a must.
Careful Giving Your K9 Caffeine
It is not controversial to say that dogs should not be given much, if any, caffeine.
Sure, green tea contains comparatively less than coffee. Nevertheless, go easy to minimize risks.
Here is a rule of thumb:
Never give more than 30mg of caffeine per pound of the dog’s body weight. This goes for green tea or anything that is caffeinated.
The Bottom Line
Most green teas contain a level of caffeine which could be problematic for some pets.
There is a strong case to be made that such beverages should be off limits. After all, dogs have a high sensitivity to this natural stimulant.
Toxicity is, indeed, a valid concern.
So, at the very least, strictly limit the amount if you still plan on sharing.
Giving Green tea is certainly not recommended as a way to treat your dog for whatever may be ailing them.
Green tea and cranberries stop bad bacteria attaching to bladder walls and urethra so they flush out and they have many other health benefits. Cold pressed coconut oil and parsley kills bad bacteria from urinary track, mouth, gut etc.
They all don’t harm good bacteria.
When my dog is hungry I give him big, meaty, raw bone and when he bites it I hold it from the other end and I brush his teeth with electric tooth brush and floss his teeth. That’s the best doggy tip I can give to anyone who adopts adult rescue dog or has dog that hates or fears toothbrushes.
I also give him coconut oil with smashed parsley after meals to kill bacteria from his teeth and mouth and to give him good breath. Here fresh, meaty bones are 2€/kg in meat markets and you get cut out pieces of beef with membranes for your dog with the same price.
Can I add 1 teaspoon of decaffeinated green tea to my dog’s water bowl? I want to see if it helps him with his allergy-related rash.
He’s been tested for allergies, and I don’t give him wheat products, but have read that green tea is good for rashes. Is this right or dangerous?
I give my dog Bigelow green tea. I mix it in with her dry dog food. I dilute it with water. I’ve heard that green tea is good for dogs. It has antioxidants.
Two words: decaffeinated tea.
I drink green tea and/or Rooibos (red) tea daily. I don’t throw away the bags. Instead, I let them dry on the counter and the next day I mix it with my dogs wet/dry food mix. It has only helped my dog and it is noticeable.
I started when my Dachshund had bathroom problems as he got older. After a couple of weeks with green tea, it went away after months of problems. Green tea and also red tea has nothing but helped all my dogs.
Is it okay just to break open the tea bag and put the dry rooibos in the dog’s food. I have a dog with a tumor I am treating.
I found the best Green Tea called Japanska. It contains 3200mg of caffeine per 100 grams. Do you think it’s okay or too strong for a little 7 kilogram dog?
I think that a small amount of green tea can comfort and lift an old dog, just as it does people. Too much caffeine is bad, but moderation in all things. I give my dogs green tea as they age, and they seem to benefit. I think we go too far in saying caffeine is dangerous to dogs.
Our last naturally raised Chihuahua lived to be 22 years old and was never ill a day in her life. She also never had a vaccine, pet food, chemicals and the toxic junk regular vets dish out.
She ate raw meaty bones, lived in a pack of small dogs, and had only natural products both internally and externally. She only saw her homeopathic vet once a year for a wellness exam which cost us less than $200 a year.
Compare this to conventionally reared dogs; it’s not what you want for you animals. Herbal teas are good and safe for dogs, just be sure to get the dosing amount correct.
God has given us all we need to not only live but to thrive. We need to learn all about this and apply it to our lives to have the very best life and health. Health never comes from vaccines, drugs, chemicals and toxins.
Matcha maybe be better for health benefits as it’s far lower in caffeine than normal green tea.
My dog gets some bad gas from time to time. What can I give her? Are there any teas that would help her or over-the-counter medicines?
What about a decaffeinated green tea? I was interested more in the plaque blocking benefits of green tea, than the overall antioxidant properties. It seems like it would be a good addition for tooth and gum health.
The polyphenol compound found in green tea, epigallocetechin-galleate (“EGCG”), is a potent chemo-preventative agent. Its mechanism respecting tumor growth has been well-studied by scientists. Epidemiological studies confirm its efficacy, at least in combination with other aspects of Asian and especially Japanese diet.
High quality green teas are very low in caffeine to start with; but if you can get it in effective forms without caffeine, it makes sense to add it to a dog’s diet (you’ll have to figure out dosage based on body weight) before they get cancer. Dogs get cancer, and die prematurely of it.
Other anti-carcinogenic foods that can safely become part of a dog’s diet include Brussels sprouts, broccoli, apples, canned tomatoes, carrots, and cranberry, cherry, pomegranate and blueberry juices (best source: Trader Joe’s) and above all, Curcumin/Piperine extract (Costco).
Whole foods are generally more reliable (most supplements are garbage) so you need to find a proper source of any extracts to maximize the chance that they actually contain enough of the active molecule that you’re seeking.
My 12-year old mixed-breed dog had cancer and an undetermined endocrine system disorder, very possibly caused by the cancer. In September of 2012, she was unable to sit, stand, or feed herself, had lost all of her fur, was covered with sores, and was occasionally experiencing seizures. Of course, we presumed that she was in her last hours and the vets consulted, all, suggested putting her down.
I began feeding her by hand, and using a syringe to keep her hydrated, bathing her skin in a carefully-researched blend essential oils and using coal tar shampoo. I began making her food, which include two green tea extract capsules with each meal, carrots, sweet potatoes, flaxseed, blueberries, organic peanut butter, small amounts of kale and spinach, with a variety of other foods and supplements rotated in from time to time. Her food was blended until it was drinkable.
She had a couple of minor setbacks, but she steadily improved, never missing a meal that included green tea extract. I do know that not all green tea extracts are the same. Mine contained minimal amounts of caffeine. If higher, I would not have used it.
This dog is now cancer-free and looks and acts like a puppy. Perhaps she was the exception and just responded to the love and attention, but the green tea extract certainly produced no ill effects in 9 months of this diet.
I am fostering a cancer patient. Please send me more information on what you did for her; I will try anything to help this dog!
If you have a dog with cancer, I strongly recommend you look into green tea or essiac tea to shrink the tumors. There are also many other supplements that have been found to be a benefit for dogs with cancer.
Thanks for sharing your story Rutabaga. My Lab was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma 2 weeks ago. Your story is uplifting.
Our Pooh Bear was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma a month ago. Can I ask what you did and the results?
Can you give the name of the products used such as green tea capsules etc. and the ingredients or measurements in the oil bath blend? Also, what kind of coal tar shampoo? Did you use human T/Gel shampoo?
How many meals a day did you give your dog? Did you blend all the veggies etc. then added water to the mix to make it drinkable? Finally, did you continue any of the methods once the cancer left? I am trying to get my Lab mix in good health.