September 29th marks National Coffee Day, an ode to the morning (and afternoon) jolt that gets so many of us through the day. Whether you take it with cream and sugar, blended with three pumps of your favorite flavor, or black with no frills everyone can celebrate the day with their perfect cup o’ joe. Well, not everyone; this is one celebration that can’t go to the dogs, and the reason is simple: caffeine isn’t good for them.
Caffeine has the same effect on pets that it does on humans – it increases their energy and heart rate – but because they weigh less than we do, the effects are more intense. Like any toxicity, the severity will depend on the size of your pet and the amount of caffeine consumed but they will exhibit signs within 30-60 minutes of ingestion. Symptoms include restlessness, hyperactivity, agitation, panting, and vomiting. It could even progress to tremors or a seizure. For reference, brewed coffee contains anywhere from 95-165 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces, black tea has about 25-48, cola has 24-46, and energy drinks can contain up to 164 milligrams. Signs of toxicity can occur if a pet ingests 14 milligrams per pound of body weight – which means it doesn’t take much to be harmful to cats or small dogs.
Call your vet if your pet ingests caffeine and/or starts to exhibit signs of toxicity. In some cases they can induce vomiting to prevent further absorption but they can also provide fluids to flush it from their system faster. It can take up to 48 hours for the caffeine to leave their bloodstream but, in most cases, they’ll be okay. As a general rule, keep an eye on your pet around caffeinated drinks and always keep coffee beans/grounds, teas, and medications out of paws’ reach.
