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My dog drank root beer. Is it safe? Should I take him to the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Boston Terrier | Male | neutered | 3 months and 22 days old | 22 lbs

Charlie knocked over a can of root beer and drank a little. Is it safe for him or should I take him to the vet?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 19th, 2018

Hello there! A small amount of root beer should not cause any major problems. Sometimes, when dogs ingest a new food, it can cause stomach irritation and mild vomiting. This usually resolves itself as long as it is a small amount of non-toxic food. Some diet sodas contain a sugar substitute called xylitol, that can be toxic and require a vet check. A quick google search showed me that there's only one niche brand of sugar-free root beer that has this ingredient. You are probably safe, but check the ingredient list for "xylitol" just to be sure. Otherwise, none of the ingredients in the major root beer recipes I just found online looked alarming at all. I would expect Charlie to range from completely fine to mildly and temporarily nauseous from his mischief. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on August 25th, 2017

    Feeding dogs food or drinks that they are not used to can cause problems with their GI tract. Since root beer has a lot of sugar and is carbonated, it may upset Chloe's stomach and possibly cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. So, although root beer is not toxic to dogs, it's not a good idea to let them have any. I hope that answers your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    10Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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