Puppuccino at Starbucks is free. Yes, you read that right! Your dog can enjoy the tasty sweet Puppuccino for free. The catch is that you’ll have to order a Starbucks drink. When you take a look at your check, the Puppuccino may be listed as a miscellaneous item with a cost of zero dollars or $0 so it won’t cost you a penny.
Note that Starbucks Puppuccino is not an official food product on the Starbucks menu so your local Starbucks will offer Puppuccino at their own discretion or choice.
Since it is made of Whipped Cream, be aware that many dogs are lactose-intolerant so it’s best to give your dogs just a little bit if this is their first time trying it.
Table of Contents
What is a Puppuccino from Starbucks?
A Puppuccino from Starbucks usually comes in a small white paper cup. The cup is the size of a small espresso or sample size Starbucks cup. Most people call it the pup cup. The Starbucks barista fills this small cup with whipped cream that is dog-friendly and caffeine-free. This means the whipped cream is plain and there are no added sugar, caffeine, or fruits.
People usually will drive up to the Starbucks drive-thru and order their Starbucks drink. In many cases, the friendly Starbucks barista will notice that you have a dog in your car and will offer your pup a Puppuccino (upon your consent).
Usually, Starbucks customers will ask for a Puppuccino for their furry friends whenever they are ordering their Starbucks drink.
You may notice that the Puppuccino is not on the Starbucks menu. The reason is that Puppuccino is part of the Starbucks secret menu. As long as you’re with your canine, you can ask for it and it is usually free.
Information about Starbucks menu
Starbucks customers love its wide selection of drink options and small savory treats. However, be aware that many of the drinks are caffeinated beverages that are filled with calories and caffeine, including iced coffee, iced espresso, hot beverage, or Frappuccino.
Speaking of caffeine, it is a stimulant that is toxic to dogs and can cause caffeine toxicity in dogs. Caffeine can raise your dog’s blood pressure and cause cardiac arrhythmias in canines. When this happens, your furry friends may lose muscle control, have seizures, or even have tremors.
In fact, caffeine can also affect your dog’s GI tract and even cause them to vomit. Note that vomiting is one of the ways for the dog’s body to naturally rid itself of the toxin.
So it is best to avoid feeding your pooch any of the standard Starbucks drinks and side food from the menu. The only thing your pup can consume is the dog-friendly Starbucks Puppuccino. This way, they can stay away from the caffeine and the unwanted calories.
Starbucks Puppuccino ingredients
The good news is that the Starbucks Puppuccino is caffeine-free. Let’s discuss the ingredients in this blended Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream mix. It consists of the following:
- Cream.
- Mono and diglycerides.
- Milk.
- Manufactured vanilla syrup.
- Carrageenan.
Let’s discuss each of these ingredients and see whether they are safe for your pooch.
Cream in Puppuccino is loaded with sugar that’s bad for dogs
The cream in Starbucks Puppuccino is whipped cream so it does contain a lot of sugar. Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can cause canine diabetes. Try to give your dogs Starbucks Puppuccino as an occasional treat a few times a year and it should not be a part of your pup’s regular dietary intake.
Additionally, it is a dairy product so many dogs that are lactose intolerant will have a hard time digesting it since they don’t have the lactase enzyme to digest the lactose, which is the sugar found in dairy products like milk.
Dogs that are lactose intolerant may experience the following symptoms if they consume dairy products like cream:
- Diarrhea.
- Constant passing of gas.
- Bloating.
Keep in mind that while cream provides calcium and helps with canine growth, whipped cream in this case does not provide any nutrient benefits to your pup’s health. Instead, whipped cream is also high in fats which can cause weight gain and ultimately lead to canine obesity if consumed regularly.
Mono and diglycerides in Puppuccino are harmful to dogs
Many dog owners go by this mantra when it comes to dog food for their furry friends:
“If you can’t pronounce it, then don’t eat it.”
In other words, if you can’t easily pronounce the ingredients that are in the food, skip it and don’t eat it. But if you’re wondering what mono and diglycerides is and why they use this in the Starbucks Puppuccino, here’s why:
Mono and diglycerides are used to blend the oil and water together to help improve the stability and texture of the Starbucks Puppuccino. This way, it prevents oil from separating and the food product has a longer shelf life.
However, mono and diglycerides are hydrogenated oil. Just 2 tablespoons of mono and diglycerides would already fulfill a quarter of all the fat a human needs for that day. Imagine the amount of fat your tiny pooch would receive from this. Plus, mono and diglycerides are not useable fat. Thus, we highly recommend that you feed your pup food without this ingredient.
Milk in Puppuccino is harmful to dogs that are lactose intolerant
Like cream, milk is a dairy product. If your pups are lactose-intolerant, avoid giving them the Starbucks Puppuccino as they may have a difficult time digesting it. Adult dogs lack the lactase enzyme that is responsible for breaking down lactose in the milk. Your dog may vomit, have gastrointestinal upset, or have diarrhea from ingesting milk.
Thus, make sure to only offer a small amount of Puppuccino to your dog occasionally.
While milk does contain calcium and can help your dog’s teeth and bones, the Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream form may not have any health benefits for your pooch.
Manufactured vanilla syrup
That delicious flavor in the Puppuccino is due to the manufactured vanilla syrup so technically, the Starbucks Puppuccino is a processed dairy treat that dogs should have occasionally and not daily.
Carrageenan
Found in many dairy products like yogurt and nut milk, Carrageenan is a food additive. The purpose of using carrageenan is to help keep a consistent thick texture in the Starbucks Puppuccino whipped cream.
According to the Cornucopia Institute, even a small amount of carrageenan can cause intestinal inflammation in dogs and potentially lead to cancer. Since it is a food additive, it does not provide any nutrient benefits to dogs either.
Carrageenan can easily be replaced with safer dog-friendly alternatives like pea starch, potato starch, tomato paste, guar gum, tapioca, and garbanzo bean flour.
What is in a Starbucks Puppuccino?
Now that we know the ingredients in this Starbucks Puppuccino, let’s dive deeper to learn how it may affect your dog’s health.
| Name, Unit | Amount |
| Sugar, g | 3 – 6 |
| Sodium, mg | 10 – 20 |
| Protein, g | 1 – 2 |
| Cholesterol, mg | 40 – 80 |
| Carbs, g | 4 – 8 |
| Fat, g | 12 – 24 |
As you can see, in that tiny small cup of Starbucks puppuccino, it’s packed full of sugar, sodium, carbs, and cholesterol, which can harm your dog’s health if you give them this treat on a regular basis.
Of the 12 to 24 grams of Fat, 7 to 14 grams of this Fat is saturated, which is pretty high. Keep in mind that a dog’s total fat content should be between 12 to 20% of their total diet. Saturated fat is also a bad kind of fat.
The high content of cream and sugar in the whipped cream can negatively affect your dog’s health so try to keep this as an occasional fun treat and not to be consumed daily.
How many calories in a Puppuccino at Starbucks?
A Puppuccino at Starbucks is usually between 120 to 240 calories. The calorie count also depends on the size of the cup. While a typical Starbucks Puppuccino is the size of an espresso cup, some dog owners may request a large cup.
With a Yellow Labrador and a Chihuahua at home, I decided to put the calories in Starbucks Puppuccino into context. So here it goes:
- Daily, a typical dog should only consume 25 calories for each pound they weigh.
- My Chihuahua is 10 pounds and should eat no more than 250 calories per day.
- My Yellow Labrador is 65 pounds and should eat no more than 1,625 calories per day.
So, this means that:
- A small 120 calories Starbucks Puppuccino would take up 48% of my Chihuahua’s daily intake and 7% of my Yellow Labrador’s daily intake.
- A large 240 calories Starbucks Puppuccino would take up 96% of my Chihuahua’s daily intake and 15% of my Yellow Labrador’s daily intake.
With this in mind, even a small Starbucks Puppuccino will take up almost half of my small dog’s daily intake. This is more calories than she needs from dog treats alone.
Note that when it comes to dog treats, the 90/10 rule applies. This means 90% of calories should be from a balanced and complete diet while only 10% of the calories should be from dog treats.
As you can see, a small Starbucks Puppuccino tips over this 10% limit for a small dog by more than four times and almost 10% for a large dog.
Hint: Many of us like to give our furry friends the sugary snacks we’re eating such as Reese’s Pieces which can actually harm our doggy’s health. It is always best to check how much sugar the food has before we give it to our pup to avoid any weight gain.
How to order a Puppuccino at Starbucks?
Many Starbucks customers with dogs will usually drive up to the Starbucks drive-thru and order their drinks before asking for the Puppuccino for their furry friends sitting in the back seat.
Sometimes if the friendly Starbucks barista notices your pups in the back seat, they may ask you if your canine would like a Puppuccino or a pup cup. In this way, the Puppuccino at Starbucks is usually not an official order.
The reason why many Starbucks customers do this is because of the Starbucks dog policy. Let’s find out what this policy entails.
Starbucks dog policy:
Starbucks’s nationwide dog policy is that customers can not enter Starbucks with their canines. Their pooch must wait outside while they buy their coffee or other Starbucks drinks and food. In this way, some would say that dogs or other animals are banned from Starbucks.
Hint: After your pup has consumed his Puppuccino, it’s best to wash it down with water. Make sure it is not carbonated water because this could upset the dog’s stomach even more.
Starbucks service animal policy:
However, the only exception is if your pooch is your guide dog or service dog. The Starbucks service animal policy allows guide or service dogs to enter Starbucks with their owners.
Due to this, if you would like to enjoy your Starbucks drinks with your canine friends, you’ll have to enjoy it outside with them.
With this in mind, there are two ways to order Starbucks drinks and food. Let’s discuss the first method here:
1. Starbucks mobile app
The first is to order your Starbucks drinks and food through the Starbucks mobile app and let the store know that you will stop by soon to pick up your orders outdoors since you have a dog.
When the Starbucks barista brings you your order, you could let him or her know that you have your dog with you and if they could also bring you a Puppuccino. Most likely, the barista will see that you have a dog with you and ask whether your pooch would like a Puppuccino or pup cup.
Depending on your local Starbucks, some stores may not have Puppuccinos or know about Puppuccinos.
Now, let’s discuss the second method:
2. Starbucks service dog policy
If you have a registered service dog, make sure your pup is wearing the service dog harness or gear and that you have the proper identification to prove this.
When you walk into the Starbucks store, inform the store employee that you have a service dog. If they ask for identification as proof, go ahead and show the proof of registration to them.
It’s very common to get your ordered drinks first before your furry friend or service dog gets theirs. So be prepared to wait a few minutes for them to bring you your dog’s Puppuccino or pup cup.
How to order a Puppuccino on the Starbucks app
If you would like to order your Starbucks drinks or food online, you can download the Starbucks app. Please note that there may not be a Puppuccino option since it is not an official item on the list. Also, the Starbucks dog menu isn’t really widely known to be official so it is not on the app.
If you’ve never ordered from the Starbucks app before, don’t worry. We will go over this step by step.
- You’ll want to download the Starbucks app if you haven’t done so yet.
- Once the app is downloaded on your phone, go ahead and tap the icon to open it.
- Find your order and add the items to your cart.
- Choose where you’d like to pick up your order.
- If you have a Starbucks gift card, you can apply the cost against the gift card.
- Finally, review and place your order.
When you head over to pick up your Starbucks order, be sure to bring your dog with you. When you receive your order from the Starbucks staff, kindly ask them for a Puppuccino. In most cases, they will see your pup with you and ask if your canine would like a pup cup.
Is Starbucks Puppuccino good for dogs?
No, Starbucks Puppuccino is not good for dogs, especially in excess amounts. If you would like to offer your furry friends a Starbucks Puppuccino, moderation is key. One small Pup Cup should be fine. Any more than that can cause health issues in dogs.
Not only is the Starbucks Puppuccino a dairy product, which is harmful to dogs that are lactose intolerant, but it also contains ingredients that aren’t healthy or good for our four-legged friends.
As discussed above, the cream in Pup Cup is full of sugar. Allowing your dogs to regularly have Pup Cup can lead to various health issues caused by too much sugar consumption.
It’s important to note that our canine friends don’t need sugar in their diet at all. Giving them a snack that is full of sugar like the Starbucks Puppuccino can actually cause the following:
- Dental disease: tooth decay and cavities.
- Metabolic changes.
- Canine diabetes.
- Canine obesity.
- Pancreatitis (in severe cases).
Are Starbucks Puppuccinos safe for dogs?
Starbucks Puppuccinos are safe for most dogs. It’s best to give your furry friend just one Puppuccino instead of two or three.
If this is your puppy’s first time having a Puppuccino, definitely start with one small pup cup and see if he has any reactions to it. Some dogs are lactose-intolerant so they may not be able to digest food that contains dairy ingredients while other canines may have allergies to the Puppuccino.
Again, it’s best to give Puppuccino to your pooch in moderation. A large amount of it could cause the following symptoms due to its high sugar and cream content:
- Weight gain.
- Diabetes.
- Dental issues.
- Diarrhea.
- Upset stomach.
- Dehydration.
- Respiratory problems.
- Heart disease.
Do all Starbucks do Puppuccinos?
No, some Starbucks do not serve Puppuccinos. It really comes down to each individual store management. For instance, the Starbucks across from your apartment building may not serve Puppuccino while the Starbucks down the street may serve it.
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for some Starbucks to only serve Puppuccino to service dogs so don’t be disappointed or upset if they don’t offer Puppuccino to your canine companion.
Is Starbucks dog friendly?
While Starbucks is dog friendly, they do require dogs to stay outside. They only allow service dogs to enter the store with its owner. So let’s discuss the Starbucks rules on dogs.
Starbucks rules on dogs
Starbucks does have a company policy in which dogs are not allowed inside the Starbucks store. All of the Starbucks staff in the store know this rule. Possible reasonings include:
- Some customers in Starbucks may not like dogs or are afraid of them.
- Some people have dog allergies.
- Dogs could be noisy when the Starbucks customers expect a calm environment to study or chat.
- There is a possibility that canines can carry disease into this beverage and food store.
- Not all dogs are clean so the management team may not feel comfortable with your pup near their customers’ drinks or food.
- Some foods contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs such as chocolate.
- Some of the medium-sized or larger dogs’ faces come up to the height of the coffee tables so it’s easy for them to steal the food off the table.
Can you carry a dog into Starbucks?
According to the Starbucks dog policy, it is still a no if you were to carry your Chihuahua into Starbucks.
This happened to me as I thought it would be alright for me to carry my tiny Chihuahua in my dog pouch carrier sling. The barista allowed me that one time but made sure that I understood the Starbucks dog policy for my future trips.
Best time to get Starbucks Puppuccino
The best time to get Starbucks Puppuccinos is before or after peak hours. During the weekday, the peak hours are from 7 am to 9 am and around 3 pm when children get out of school.
The weekend does not really have a specific peak time and it’s usually consistent throughout Saturday and Sunday.
The peak hours are filled with customers and orders so the baristas will be very busy. Filling up a Puppuccino could take them away from fulfilling a customer’s order. So it’s important to keep that in mind.
This is why it is best to get your doggy a Puppuccino outside of the Starbucks peak hours.
Canine-friendly alternatives to Puppuccino
Instead of giving my pups Puppuccino, I serve them dog-friendly treats instead such as:
Final thoughts
Whether you choose to give your pooch a Starbucks Puppuccinos or not, know that it is free and will not cost you a penny.
However, keep in mind the ingredients in the Puppuccino and be sure to give them one pup cup as moderation is key.
If you’re not sure if you can give your canine friends the Puppuccino, feel free to consult with your veterinarian and ask for their advice.
Related Questions
Yes, Puppuccinos are free at Starbucks! Yay! Your canine friends can enjoy the free Puppuccino anytime you stop by Starbucks or drive up to the Starbucks drive-thru. The only catch is that each dog is only allowed to have one (1) Puppuccino or Pup Cup per your trip. This is a good thing since our canine friends would have two Pup Cup if they could. This would take a toll on their digestive system, especially if they are lactose intolerant.
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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.
Starbucks is a registered trademark of the Starbucks Corporation, Dogleashpro does not claim any ownership of the Starbucks name, logo, or any identifying mark in any way. This article is for educational purposes only.
Resources:
https://www.cornucopia.org/2014/12/pets-food-safe-think/
With over five years of specialized experience as an animal writer, my expertise lies in dog nutrition, health, behavior, grooming, and training. I am dedicated to delivering helpful and informative content that caters to the well-being of our furry friends. My primary goal is to empower pet owners with knowledge and ensure our canine companions thrive in health and happiness. In my free time, I love volunteering at local dog rescue centers.
