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What is a Starbucks Puppuccino ?

If you’re like me, you love coffee, which means Starbucks is a daily pit stop, for you and your pup.  One item on their “secret menu” is a Puppuccino.

A Starbucks Puppuccino is an espresso-shot-sized paper cup full of whipped cream, just for dogs.

Starbucks offers these for free, at most Starbuck locations.

 

Are Puppuccinos – Good or Bad for PupSize Dogs

PupSize dogs can be especially sensitive to dairy products and some may even be allergic. Some dogs have no problems digesting dairy products, while others may experience acute intestinal distress — like gas, diarrhea or vomiting — whenever they consume these kinds of foods. It’s always, it’s best to ask you veterinarian, if you are unsure or to just stay away from extra things that aren’t worth the risk.

A Puppuccino or a small cup of Starbucks whipped cream is basically made of cream and sugar. When we go to Starbucks, I may order a Puppuccino, about once a month, and usually Abigail takes 1 or 2 tiny, little licks, followed by the biggest smile.  It’s more of a novelty and something fun for us to do together or for a special occasion. A better alternative, maybe to just order your pupsize dog a simple cup of water. Typically, we when we are out and about, I will order her a small cup of ice water at Starbucks, instead of a Puppuccino, even though I prefer to give her bottled water.

Good or bad?  Well, because some dogs are bothered by dairy and Puppuccinos have no nutritional value, it’s probably not good for a dog to have one of these sugary treats every day, but from time to time, it’s probably not too bad.  In any case, we applaud and appreciate Starbucks for doing this for our pups and wish other businesses would follow their lead… I mean, what’s better than being able to share our lives with our pupsize dogs.

**Please note that this post is not intended to provide medical or dietary information and, as always, please consult your trusted veterinarian.**

Click here to find out What’s in a Starbucks Puppuccino?

20 comments

  • Lilith
    October 12, 2020

    Our dog’s head reaches up to our knee (to give you an idea of the height) and she licked some old whipped cream from a plastic bin.
    She then laid down. Slept. Woke up and barfed everywhere over the floor.
    I won’t be giving a kid plain whip cream…and certainly not dogs.
    Call me oldfashioned, but why would you encourage eating only whipped cream? Many snacks during the day, spoil your appetite. Dinner is dinner.
    Our dog enjoys a bit of egg as a treat and on her birthday, liver-sausage. About two slices.
    Not to mention, her food 2 times a day and occasionally she can have 4-5 ‘splinters’ of grinded Gouda cheese hidden in her food, if she has a difficult-eating-day.

  • Grace
    May 20, 2019

    One of the dumbest ideas people have come up with for their dogs. Starbucks didn’t create this for the dogs, it’s a cup of whipped cream. And no where near appropriate for a dog to consume. You wanna give your dog human food fine, lightly/unseasoned meat and vegetables, maybe fruit, these are things in dog food. Whipped cream should not be a part of your dogs diet. If you love them, treat them like dogs, when you treat your dog like a baby and spoil it, the dog suffers.

    • Joy Entwistle
      July 7, 2019

      I gave my 19month old Maltese-ShihTsu one puppaccino. He had diarrhea for Several days And then had
      Blood in his stool. I took him to the animal hospital and he had hemorrhaging gastroenteritis caused by the Puppuccino. He was put on meds and hadTo be given IV due to dehydration. He Was fine In
      A few days. Never again! And let’s not
      Talk talk about the $400 vet bill!

    • Izzy
      August 15, 2019

      Your an idiot.Literally the whip cream is dog friendly,so their stomach won’t get upset.

    • Sophia
      August 1, 2020

      Thank you for addressing the health detriments of this. You are completely right, the sugar and dairy in these could easily trigger pancreatitis in any dog, and I have personally seen the effects of sudden pancreatitis and how dangerous and common it is. People.. it’s not worth the vet bills and possibly loosing your pet for a small unhealthy treat. Just don’t do it. The risk is too high

  • Shelly
    January 22, 2019

    My baby is a shizhu mix (five breeds totally), I’ve never taken him to Starbucks but I have squirted about a tablespoon of whip cream on a paper towel, every once in a while. Never an issue, honestly he’s never been sick!
    When o grew up we had large outdoor dogs and w never bought dog food, they ate what we ate and they lived to be 15-20 years and were never sick at all.
    So I think it depends on the individual dogs digestive tolerance. I don’t give him human food daily but when I do, it’s not much.
    He loves shortbread cookies, man n cheese, pound cake, chicken nuggets, BK plain burgers.

    He’s not over weight but is hyper with his toys.
    He’s mine now and very healthy and SPOILED!!!!

  • December 24, 2017

    I would NEVER feed to an animal….don’t blame the messenger. I am a naturopathic physician and clinical nutrition specialist. The barista above is right.

  • Survey
    December 17, 2017

    Check with veterinarian first before it’s too late

  • m
    November 11, 2017

    Everybody’s just guessing here. Well here’s a fact from a vet tech who has seen it far too many times… dog’s cannot process fat the way humans can!! So unless you want to end up with your dog getting pancreatitis, which is extremely painful btw and potentially deadly, stay away from the puppyccino’s!!!

  • Philip
    January 3, 2017

    I just brought my dog to the animal hospital because she was vomiting then unresponsive. The vet said it was most likely the whipped cream since it was the only anomaly. This conclusion was after blood work, EKG, fluids, and other tests.

    • Marissa
      May 14, 2017

      What did your vet give your dog im having same problem with my dog

    • Jr.
      October 26, 2017

      OMG, What breed of dog? Never heard of this ever happening my GSD has a PupAChino a lot never no issue!

      Maybe something else in combination.

  • Leaf
    November 8, 2016

    As a barista, I despise this growing trend. Puppuccinos are NOT a real or recognized Starbucks product. Like with all “secret menu” items, this is a product invented solely by customers, not by Starbucks. We don’t support our customers feeding potentially life-threatening food to their pets, and we are not liable in the probable outcome that your dog becomes sick, or worse.

    The only safe thing we can give your pet is a cup of water.

    • Mario
      November 20, 2016

      I was GIVEN a puppaccino by a barista because he saw my pup with me I had no idea of this growling trend so don’t blame the customers the baristas are also at fault

    • Amy
      December 28, 2016

      Wow. This almost made me a Starbucks fan again. Thanks, grumpy barista for killing that…

      • Jacey Neubauer
        July 5, 2017

        Yyiu guys are harsh on this barista dont think ? Be reasonable she is being honest some just dont when to quit feeding thier dog human food i personaly think 1 a month is to much

  • Rita Chesterton
    September 8, 2016

    The sugar and fats and carageenan aren’t great for dogs, but as long as Xylitol (a toxic sugar substitute) isn’t an ingredient, I’m guessing a Puppuccino once a month is likely okay. Just remember, though, some dogs are terribly allergic and lactose intolerant, so check with your vet first.

    • MISO PUP
      September 8, 2016

      Thank you for your comment. We totally agree. Some dogs are very sensitive to dairy and as you mentioned, it is always best to check with your trusted vet.

      • Taylor
        May 16, 2019

        Yesterday 05-15-19
        My 5 month old pit bull had his first and last puppuccino cause it cause him to be brain dead he had his sugar spike and had him throwing up and he had 6 seizures after about 4 hours of being worked on he was brain dead and I had to put him down he was unresponsive

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