My Dog Drank Coffee – Should I Be Worried?

Coffee is a staple in millions of homes and offices worldwide.

But what if your dog drank coffee? Should you be worried?

There’s no need to worry, but it does depend on how much they drink!

In this blog post, we explore whether or not coffee is toxic to dogs and the symptoms of caffeine poisoning.

We also talk about prevention strategies like keeping your coffee pot out of reach from curious paws and being vigilant when serving guests with hot beverages.

Is Coffee Toxic To Dogs?

The short answer is yes, coffee can be toxic to dogs.

This doesn’t mean it’s deadly though as the dosage needs to be at least 50mg/kg in order for poisoning symptoms to emerge.

That means that a 15-pound dog would need to drink more than 100 ounces of coffee (roughly 165 cups) before they’d experience any signs of toxicity.

How Much Coffee Is Toxic To Dogs?

For an average size adult dog, or one weighing between 20-40lbs, 40mg per kg of body weight can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, and restlessness.

If your dog weighs more than 40lbs then they would need to drink less coffee for it to be toxic.

Why Does My Dog Like Coffee So Much?

dog drinking coffee from owner's cup

A lot of people enjoy coffee for the taste, but it turns out dogs love the stuff too! 

Dogs are naturally drawn to anything that smells like food and coffee just so happens to have a similar aroma.

Cats on the other hand seem to be much less interested in the smell of coffee as they tend not to drink it at all.

So why do dogs like coffee? It could be because some breeds need more energy than others and this substance can help with that.

What To Do If Your Dog Drank Coffee Accidentally?

It’s a dilemma every dog owner has faced at some point.

You’re sitting down to enjoy your morning cup of coffee when you hear the dreaded sound: “GURRRRRP!” It’s your dog, and he has just swallowed his own tongue!

But what do you do?

If you suspect that your dog has drunk any type of caffeinated beverage, call the vet immediately just in case!

The vet will likely ask about how much was consumed (in ounces) or if possible take a urine sample before treatment begins.

Most vets will ask you to bring your dog in for an examination.

Before you do that, try these tips as well –

1. If your dog drank coffee, don’t panic! 

2. Give the dog a few minutes to see if they vomit or have diarrhea. 

3. Offer them water and food that doesn’t contain caffeine. 

4. If you can, take them for a walk outside in the fresh air.

What Is Caffeine Poisoning In Dogs?

dog looking sick while drinking a cup of coffee

Caffeine poisoning is when a pet has consumed too much caffeine and their blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and neurological functions are compromised.

If left untreated it can be fatal!

Symptoms include restlessness, increased salivation/thirstiness, and urination (wetting), vomiting, or diarrhea. Treatment includes decontamination by giving activated charcoal on the stomach but this only works if done within two hours of ingestion.

Symptoms of Caffeine Poisoning in Dogs

Increased heart rate, elevated temperature (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit), diarrhea, and vomiting can all be signs that you need to get medical attention immediately!

The vet might use activated charcoal or stomach pumping as emergency treatments for toxicity levels high enough.

If there are no symptoms, then just monitor their behavior but still contact a veterinarian if anything seems unusual.

Treatment Of Caffeine Poisoning In Dogs

Caffeine poisoning can be a serious problem for dogs. 

If your dog has ingested caffeine in an interesting way, such as coffee grounds or cleaning supplies which are often found around the home, take them to see a veterinarian right away. 

The vet will examine your pup and then come up with the best course of treatment depending on what is going on inside their body at that moment; this may include inducing vomiting if they’ve consumed too much caffeine already.

If it’s been less than 24 hours, you might be able to use activated charcoal or stomach pumping as emergency treatments for toxicity levels high enough.

The vet might also recommend that your dog stay with them and continue monitoring the symptoms until they’re gone or at least decreased in severity.

It can take up to three days before an animal is completely healed from caffeine poisoning – so try not to let this happen again!

It’ll help if you teach your pup a new trick: “sit” means no more coffee! 🙂

Your dog will thank you and feel better too!

How To Prevent Your Dog From Drinking Coffee

It’s important to prevent your dog from drinking coffee because they may not know just how toxic it can be without any previous experience with consuming caffeinated drinks.

It’s important to know that dogs are curious and will try new things, so it is best to keep their behavior in mind when you have coffee around your home or out of the house with them!

It can make sense to purchase bitter apple spray which has natural ingredients such as citrus peel oil which can deter them from licking something they shouldn’t.

If your dog has been drinking coffee on a regular basis, it is important to keep an eye out for any adverse effects which may be caused by the caffeine.

Here are some easy steps –

1. Make sure you don’t leave your coffee unattended. 

2. Keep your coffee in a place that is out of reach from the dog. 

3. Use a child-proof lock to keep the coffee safe and away from curious paws.

Conclusion

It’s always best to prevent dogs from drinking coffee at home because accidents do happen but we hope this provides some insight into what to do if one does.

The key takeaway from this blog is: keep an eye out for coffee consumption in your dog, and treat it with care!

References:

  1. [ref] “Is Coffee Toxic To Dogs?” Live Science, 2018. Web. 23 Sep 2018.
  2. [ref] “How Much Caffeine Is Too Much For Your Dog?” Can I Give My Dog That?, 09 Nov 2012., 22 Aug 2011 – This article explains how much caffeine can be toxic to dogs depending on their weight and the type of caffeinated beverage they consumed (i.e., coffee vs soda). It also includes a list of symptoms that may indicate toxicity as well as emergency treatments available at veterinary offices or hospitals.”Can I Give My Dog That?”, 22 Aug 2011, Web. 23 Sep 2018
  3. [ref] “What To Do If Your Dog Drank Coffee Accidentally” Live Science, 06 Mar 2017. Web. 23 Sep 2018.”Live Science”, 06 Mar 2017, Web. 23 Sep 2018
  4. [ref]”Symptoms Of Caffeine Poisoning In Dogs” CBS News, 11 Jan 2014., 09 Nov 2012 – This article provides a list of symptoms that may indicate caffeine poisoning in dogs as well as the treatment available at veterinary offices or hospitals (i.e., induction vomiting). It also includes information on how to prevent your dog from drinking coffee and what materials can be used for prevention.” CBS News”, 11 Jan 2014, Web. 23 Sept

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