Can My Dogs Drink Sprite?

Have you ever wondered if your dog can drink some of that bubbly sugary Sprite? No dogs should not drink Sprite! Never give your dog any sugary or caffeinated beverage. The risks of Sprite having an adverse effect on your dogs’ health are too high. 

Not only does soda not provide any nutritional benefit to your dogs at all, but it is also loaded with harmful artificial ingredients and GMOs along with sugar, carbonation, and possibly caffeine. 

If you must buy a special beverage for your dog, we highly recommend sticking to drinks that are designed for canine consumption. Sprite and other sodas are for humans, they contain artificial ingredients such as sweeteners and caffeine which can be extremely dangerous to dogs. 

If your dog consumes too much soda (more than a little lick) he could experience elevated heart rate or even caffeine toxicity. Some brands of diet Sprite could contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs, so be extra careful if your drink contains it. Never mix sodas such as Sprite with any dairy products like milk to make soda floats, since dogs do not handle dairy well.

Can Dogs Drink Sprite?

While your dog can drink a little bit of Sprite and probably be ok you should try to avoid giving it to them if you can. The sugar rush given by Sprite is not healthy for dogs as they cannot handle much of the food we consume as humans. 

A word of caution about off-brand sodas before we proceed, not all brands are created equal and can contain different chemicals some of which could be very harmful to your furry canine companion. 

Be extra careful with off-brand sodas, these could contain different additives such as xylitol which is very toxic to dogs if consumed. This sweetener is normally found in “diet” or “zero sugar” versions of popular carbonated beverages. 

Sprite typically does not contain caffeine which could be harmful to your dog if too much is consumed, but it does contain a large amount of sugar which is not healthy for dogs.

Sprites Sugary Side Effects On Dogs

Sugar is not something you want to expose your dog to regularly. There are a number of potentially serious side effects which could occur especially if a large quantity is consumed quickly. 

Stomach Issues

Dogs have very sensitive stomachs and sugar can cause some discomfort along with some messy side effects. Sugar feeds bad gut bacteria in dogs just like it does in humans, upsetting this balance can lead to some stinky side effects. In the short term, your dog may experience stomach pains, diarrhea, bloating, and vomiting as a result of consuming too much Sprite.

Toxicity

Sodas such as Sprite (mostly off-brand Sprite) can contain Xylitol which is an artificial sweetener that can cause a serious blood sugar drop in dogs and be life-threatening. Another problematic ingredient in Sprite is citric acid, consuming too much of this is toxic to dogs and can cause nervous system depression if consumed. 

Sodas like Sprite are loaded with artificial ingredients and this is just scratching the surface of the negative effects it has on their help. It’s best to avoid sodas in general due to their highly processed and artificial nature.

Canine Cavities

Dogs get cavities and tooth decay just like humans do, so avoid giving them sugar whenever possible to prevent this. Overconsumption of sugar in dogs leads to an increase in acids in the mouth which destroys their enamel.

Packing On The Weight

Consuming too much sugar will cause your pooch to gain weight. Drinks like Sprite are loaded with sugar, as your dog consumes more sugar in their diet than recommended they will begin to gradually gain weight which can lead to other more serious health issues.

Canine Diabetes

Weight gain in dogs puts them at risk of developing type II diabetes. Your dog’s body will be unable to process insulin properly and require injections for the remainder of their lives to stay balanced and healthy. 

Carbonated Beverages & Bloating In Dogs

That’s right! Giving your furry friends any carbonated beverage such as Sprite or even sparkling water could lead to bloating. Bloating in dogs could be potentially painful as they may be unable to release the gasses right away. Avoid putting any type of carbonated beverage including Sprite into your dog’s water dish, it could cause them some major discomfort and no one wants that!

What To Do If Your Dog Drinks Too Much Sprite

Let’s say your dog knocks over a large bottle of Sprite you left out on your countertop while you went out shopping and the bottle bursts when hitting the floor spilling all that sugary Sprite all over the floor. What do you do when you get home and see your dog has drunk a good amount of that mess and now you need to make a decision. The first thing to do is give your vet a call and get their opinion on the situation. 

Your dog will probably experience some side effects due to a large amount of sugar. It would be a good idea to get them some water to counteract and flush any of the dehydrating effects of soda, luckily most Sprites don’t contain caffeine or much of any other additives so you’ve dodged a bullet there since caffeine poisoning could be fatal in dogs. 

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations to the letter and monitor your dog’s condition throughout the day. If their condition becomes serious you may need to visit your vet.

Dog Safe Alternatives To Sprite & Sodas

Dogs should only be given plain old everyday water as their main liquid source. Human drinks contain far too many harmful ingredients to ever be safe for regular consumption by dogs. Things to look out for are citric acid, caffeine, sugar, dairy, and any alcoholic beverages as none of these things are handled well by dogs. 

Stick to dog treats that your dog will love like these highly rated snacks:

Conclusion

As humans, we often consume food that is less than healthy just for the pleasure of it. As responsible dog owners, we have a duty to protect our furry friends from harm, regardless of where it comes from. Sprite is a delicious drink to have with some BBQ on a hot sunny day but we should avoid giving it to our dogs.

The sugary contents of sodas like sprite could be very harmful to our canines and should not be added to their diets if we can help it. If your dog has consumed a large amount of sprite or any soda and you are concerned about their health never hesitate to contact your veterinarian for treatment and advice.

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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding dietary needs.

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_Zero_Sugar

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/does-sprite-have-caffeine