Can Dogs Have Coffee & Can It Poison My Dog?

Many people depend on coffee and can't start a day without it. The good news is that our beloved dogs doesn't need caffeine to get them through the day. Maybe you have wondered whether dogs can have coffee while you sip your morning coffee. Dogs can accidentally take a few licks of your coffee or even find coffee beans on the ground, but what will happen if they do? Will coffee poison your dog? Stay with us and find out.

Can dogs drink coffee?

The shortest possible answer is - no. Dogs shouldn't consume coffee or coffee beans. Many dog owners don't realize how bad coffee can be for their dogs. If you let your dog consume coffee, your dog could end up with many severe problems, including death.

If your dog gets his paws on your coffee mug and has a lick or two, in most cases, you have nothing to worry about since the amount of caffeine is too small to damage your dog. But if your dog finds himself with the coffee beans and ingests them, you should act fast and take your dog to the vet clinic as quickly as possible.

coffee and dog

Is coffee bad for dogs?

Coffee should be left only for human consumption since it can cause many health problems for your pooch. If your dog drinks coffee or eats coffee beans, you can expect him to show some health issues. Watching for caffeine poisoning symptoms is the most important thing you need to do if your dog has drunk coffee. If left untreated, this could lead to serious problems for your dog, including death.

Coffee poisoning symptoms

Symptoms of caffeine poisoning will usually happen pretty fast after ingestion. If you catch your dog drinking coffee or eating coffee beans, you should immediately call your vet and watch out for caffeine poisoning symptoms.

Caffeine poisoning symptoms are:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Excessive urination
Lethargy
Panting
Abnormal heart rate
Abnormal blood pressure
Hyperthermia

For some extreme cases of caffeine poisoning, your dog could have seizures and collapse. If your dog has ingested a large amount of caffeine, there is a possibility that the caffeine will kill your dog. This will mostly depend on the dose your dog has ingested and the size of your dog. Of course, smaller dogs will need to consume much less caffeine to die.

coffee and coffee grounds

How much caffeine is too much?

The amount of caffeine needed to cause poisoning depends on many factors. If your dog ingests 3 teaspoons of coffee ground, he will experience some mild symptoms. This will depend on the type of coffee ground and the dog's size.

If your dog ingests around ten teaspoons of ground coffee, he will most probably show signs of poisoning, and you will have to act quickly to save your dog.

What to do if my dog drinks coffee?

If you have seen or suspect your dog ingested coffee beans, the first thing you need to do is to stay calm. If you start to panic, you will only create more problems. Then, call your vet and ask him for advice. Tell your vet how much coffee beans your dog has ingested and how long ago it happened.

Your vet will instruct you on what you will have to do next. He will probably tell you to watch for poisoning symptoms, and if you notice any of them, come to the clinic.

If your dog has ingested only a small amount, in most cases, your dog will not experience health problems, but that will depend on many factors, including the size of a dog breed, type of coffee beans ingested, etc.

coffee grounds

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How will the vet treat a dog with caffeine poisoning?

Depending on the severity of the poisoning, your vet will instruct you on your next steps. Some can suggest that you monitor your dog and see if the symptoms will appear, while others can suggest that you bring your dog to the clinic for monitoring.

Sometimes, your vet can induce vomiting or give your dog active charcoal to remove toxins before the dog's system absorbs them into the bloodstream. Every case is different, and treatment will also be different.

How to prevent your dog from drinking coffee?

To prevent this, you first must know what health hazards are for your dog. Since coffee and coffee beans can be very toxic and poisonous for dogs, you shouldn’t allow your dog to come near them. You should keep coffee beans where your dog cannot find them.

Also, when you make yourself a coffee, make sure that you keep your mug on a table or other places where your dog will not be able to take a few licks.

Teaching your dog the general command "leave it" or "drop it" can help you in case your dog puts coffee beans in his mouth.

Pet poison helpline

If your dog is experiencing poisoning, besides your vet, you can contact the pet poison helpline that is available 24/7 for any assistance in case of pet poisoning. You can contact them at 1-800-213-6680. The sooner you seek help, the greater are chances that your dog will make it alive.

World Dog Finder team

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