Plant
Hops (brewing)
Emergency — malignant hyperthermia can kill within hours. Go to a vet immediately.
Life-threateningDogs
Illustrative cover using relevant category imagery; it does not depict the exact subject.
What to do right now
- 1.Do not wait for symptoms
- 2.Keep the dog cool while travelling
- 3.Tell the vet exactly what was eaten
Symptoms
- Dangerously high body temperature
- Rapid breathing and panting
- Restlessness
- Racing heart
- Seizures
Details
- Category
- Plant
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Dogs
- Routes of exposure
- Eating fresh, dried or spent brewing hops — a particular risk for home-brewing households.
- Urgency
- Emergency — malignant hyperthermia can kill within hours. Go to a vet immediately.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Spent hops after brewing remain toxic — dispose of them where dogs cannot reach. Greyhounds and some other breeds may be especially sensitive.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Hops (brewing), report the exposure route: Eating fresh, dried or spent brewing hops — a particular risk for home-brewing households. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Sources on this topic
Pages on this specific subject from recognised organisations. They are cited for further reading and do not mean the organisation has reviewed this page.
- Hops: toxicity to pets — Pet Poison Helpline
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.