Hops Toxicity and Dogs

If you enjoy home brewing, please be aware that hops can be incredibly toxic to dogs. Hops are used as flavouring and stability agents in beer, and come in the form of dried flowers, pellets, and plugs. Unfortunately, the sweet mixture of spent grains/hops is quite tasty to dogs, and with the increasing popularity of homebrewing comes the increased risk of hops ingestion in dogs.

When ingested, signs of hops poisoning include a rapid increase in body temperature, panting, restlessness, a rapid heart rate, seizures and even death. Whilst poisoning in cats has not been reported, both fresh and spent hops have been associated with poisoning in dogs.

If you have hops in your house, please ensure they are always kept well out of reach of dogs. If your pet has ingested something they should not have, you can call the Animal Poisons Helpline at 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ)) for advice.

The Animal Poisons Helpline is proudly sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Their support helps to keep this service FREE for all pet owners in Australia and New Zealand.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition: Premium pet food backed by science. From their days as puppies and kittens to their years as senior dogs and cats, Hill’s nutrition starts with science for differences you can see, feel and trust.

Visit www.hillspet.com.au to learn more.