Whether it is canned coffee drinks or instant coffee, they are relatively common in our daily lives, and there are also various coffee shops on the streets. However, if the owner likes to drink coffee, be careful not to let the dog drink it. After all, coffee is poisonous to dogs. Depending on how much the dog drinks, the severity of the dog’s poisoning symptoms will be determined. In the most serious case, the dog may lose his life.

1. Caffeine poisoning in dogs

Specifically, the reason coffee is poisonous to dogs is because of the caffeine in it. Caffeine can affect the heart and nervous system of dogs, so whether it is coffee or coffee beans, dogs can be poisoned. According to research by Provet, the lethal concentration of caffeine for dogs is 150 mg per kilogram. There may be 70 to 140 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee, so if the dog accidentally drinks a small cup of the owner's coffee, it may not reach a lethal concentration, but it may still cause severe discomfort.

2. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning in dogs

Dogs may start to show obvious symptoms one to two hours after drinking coffee, including: vomiting, convulsions, restlessness, extreme excitement, diarrhea, asthma, increased urination, thirst, elevated body temperature, etc. . Caffeine can also increase your dog's blood pressure and heart rate, and can lead to seizures due to the inability to control muscles. When dogs vomit and have diarrhea, they are actually removing some toxins from their bodies to a certain extent. If there is too much caffeine in the dog's body, it is likely to have difficulty breathing and go into coma. It will also continue to damage the heart, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. If it does not receive timely treatment, it may die.

3. How to treat caffeine poisoning in dogs

In fact, there is no medicine for dog caffeine poisoning. Your veterinarian will induce vomiting in your dog to prevent toxins from entering the bloodstream. Secondly, dogs with severe vomiting and diarrhea will lose a lot of water and require intravenous infusion to prevent dehydration and help maintain kidney function. At the same time, dogs often do not excrete excess caffeine when urinating, because the bladder wall will reabsorb the caffeine, so doctors will also insert a catheter in the dog to allow the caffeine to be excreted as soon as possible. In severe cases, dogs may also need to take some drugs to prevent epilepsy or lower blood pressure and stabilize their heartbeat. After the dog's condition stabilizes, he will need to be hospitalized for observation for a few days until the symptoms disappear.

Coffee is poisonous to dogs and cats. It is best for owners to keep coffee beans and instant coffee powder out of reach of dogs at home. If the dog does accidentally eat coffee-related food, it is best for the owner to contact the pet doctor for advice in time.

References:

​Roth J A, Ivy A C.The effect of caffeine upon gastric secretion in the dog, cat and man[J]. American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content, 1944, 141(4): 454-461.