Is your dog like mine and he loves to follow you around the kitchen? If yes then you’ll find this information helpful. These energetic companions know that as soon as any piece of food falls on the ground, they can eat it quickly before you even realize what happened.
Last month, I had an accident in the kitchen. I was preparing the coffee to kick start my day. Suddenly some coffee beans fell onto the ground and my dog ate them immediately. I tried my best to stop him, but wasn’t able to. I got worried about the health of my dog, so I immediately took him to the vet. I was very worried about him but I’m happy to say that the vet was able to save my pet’s life.
If you are also a dog owner then this type of accident can also happen to you. That’s why you should prepare yourself to deal with this kind of situation. Now you might be wondering how just a few coffee beans can take a dog’s life. Let me explain it in simple words for you.
Coffee contains a huge amount of caffeine. Which is a good ingredient for humans but not for dogs. Caffeine toxicity can cause serious medical conditions in dogs. For dogs, some of the main side effects of caffeine are vomiting, seizures, collapse, abnormal body temperature, and increased heart rate.
How Do Coffee Grounds Affect a Dog?
I have mentioned that caffeine is dangerous for dogs but didn’t discuss the reason behind it. Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed class of stimulants called methylxanthine.
Its main function is to stimulate the body’s nervous system. We may feel good after taking it, but the dog’s body will not be able to bear this stimulant. That’s why it is recommended that you should avoid letting your dog eat coffee beans or coffee grounds.
How Much Coffee Is Dangerous to Dogs?
The answer to this question is difficult because the amount of coffee that your dog can bear depends on three main factors. These are as follows:
- Age
- Weight
- Underlying medical problems
All of these factors contribute to the amount of coffee that your dog can handle. However, for a general rule of thumb, a medium-sized healthy dog can bear 10 to 50 mg of caffeine.
According to statistics, half of all dogs that die from caffeine poisoning have between 100- 200 mg of caffeine per kg in their body. That’s why no matter how young or healthy your dog is he will still need some treatment if he has eaten coffee grounds or coffee beans.
PLEASE NOTE: All the information in this blog is just for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. So, always seek advice from any Vet if you have questions regarding the health of your dog.
What Are The Side Effects of Caffeine Poisoning in a Dog?
Here are some of the side effects of caffeine poisoning in dogs:
1. Increase in Blood Pressure (hypertension)
Since caffeine stimulates the body’s nervous system it can increase blood pressure in dogs. Potential complications of hypertension in the dog can cause some other serious medical issues like congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, retinal degeneration and subsequent blindness.
2. Increased Heart Rate (tachycardia)
Caffeine increases the heart rate of dogs which can lead to death. In medical terms, this increased heart rate is also known as tachycardia. Which basically means that the heart rate is above the normal value.
3. Abnormal Heart Rhythm (arrhythmia)
Abnormal heart rhythm, also known as arrhythmia, is a medical condition in which heart rate fluctuates a lot. Don’t confuse this condition with tachycardia.
In tachycardia the heart rate is above the normal value, and in arrhythmia the heart rate may be a normal value, but it fluctuates a lot which could cause some other serious issues.
4. Hyperactivity and Restlessness
A huge amount of caffeine in dogs can cause hyperactivity and restlessness. In this case, your dog might not have any control over the movement of his muscles. Your dog may move around constantly, and his behavior and movements will be abnormal.
What Should You Do if Your Dog Eats Coffee Grounds?
One of the best things that you can do in this situation is to take him to the vet’s clinic. This small step could save the life of your little canine companion.
If your dog had eaten only a few coffee beans then the vet may discharge your dog within the same day. However, if your dog’s condition is more serious your vet could also admit him for a few days.
Depending upon the condition of your dog the treatment could be very costly. So, it’s recommended to get pet insurance. Any pet insurance company can bear the cost of these types of accidents. They will ensure that in case of any accidents you can start your pet’s treatment process without worrying about the cost.
Symptoms of Dogs That Ate Coffee Grounds
Here are some of the major symptoms of caffeine poisoning:
- Vomiting
- Seizures and Collapse
- Hyperactivity and restlessness
- An elevated body temperature
- An increase in blood pressure (hypertension)
- An increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- An abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has helped you a lot in learning about the side effects of caffeine on dogs. So, avoid giving any coffee beans to your little canine companion. Your pet might not be able to bear the consequences of eating coffee beans.
I recommend that you should get pet insurance. It will help you out in dealing with future accidents. Moreover, in case of any accidents, any good pet insurance company will provide immediate support.
If you find this resource helpful then share it with your loved ones so that they can benefit from the information too. Got some more questions about caffeine poisoning in dogs? Let me know in the comment section. I would love to answer your queries.
