Safety verdict
Consulted references classify the plant as toxic or irritating for that pet type.
Pet ingestion lookup
My dog ate Hops - what should I do?
Humulus lupulus
Potentially toxic
Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control resource now, especially if any amount was chewed or swallowed.
Verified against ASPCA/provenance audit 2026-05-06 on May 6, 2026.
Signs to watch for
Rapid onset of malignant hyperthermia, panting, increased heart rate, abdominal pain, and seizures.
Escalation note
Hops can cause life-threatening increases in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia) in dogs. This is a medical emergency; contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately if ingestion occurs.
What to watch for
Heavy panting, restlessness or agitation, racing heart rate, vomiting, and red/injected gums. Body temperature can climb above 105°F (40.6°C) — even up to 108°F (42.2°C). Tremors and seizures appear in severe cases.
Time window
Onset is usually rapid — within 30–60 minutes — but signs can be delayed up to 12 hours. Once symptomatic, signs can persist 24–48 hours and prognosis is guarded if treatment is delayed.
When to call the vet
This is an emergency. Call your nearest emergency vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately on any suspected hops ingestion — do not wait for symptoms. Spent hops from home brewing are just as dangerous as fresh.
What this means for your dog
Hops are uniquely dangerous to dogs — fresh, dried, or spent (post-brewing) hops can trigger malignant hyperthermia, where body temperature rockets above 105°F and stays there. This is a true emergency: prognosis worsens fast once signs start, and home brewers' spent hops are a frequent source.
Sources: ASPCA, ASPCApro, Pet Poison Helpline (no at-home first-aid — emergency vet contact only).
Source references
Poison-control resources
This page summarizes source-bound plant-safety information and is not veterinary advice.