Whether it is canned coffee drinks or instant coffee, they are more common in our daily life, and there are also various coffee shops on the street. However, if the owner likes to drink coffee, be careful not to let the dog drink it. After all, coffee is toxic to dogs, and depending on how much the dog drinks, it will determine the severity of the dog's poisoning symptoms. In the most serious cases, dogs are completely likely to lose their lives.
1. Caffeine poisoning in dogs
Specifically, the reason why coffee is toxic to dogs is because of the caffeine in it. Caffeine can affect the dog's heart and nervous system, so whether it is coffee or coffee beans, it can cause poisoning to the dog. According to Provet's study, the lethal concentration of caffeine in dogs is 150 mg per kilogram. The caffeine in a cup of coffee may be 70 to 140 mg, so if the dog just accidentally drinks a small cup of coffee from the owner, it may not reach a lethal concentration, but it will still cause serious discomfort.
Dogs can also be poisoned when drinking coffee. Once they drink this amount, the dog may lose their lives. 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, body temperature rise, etc. Caffeine can also increase blood pressure and increase heart rate in dogs, while being unable to control muscles and epilepsy. When dogs vomit and have diarrhea, they actually remove some toxins from their bodies to a certain extent. If the dog has too much caffeine, it is likely to have difficulty breathing and fall into a coma directly, and continue to damage the heart, stomach and nervous system. If it is not treated promptly, it may die.
3. How to treat caffeine poisoning in dogs
In fact, there is no medicine for caffeine poisoning in dogs. Pet doctors will induce vomiting to the dogs to prevent toxins from entering the blood. Secondly, severe vomiting and diarrhea of dogs will lose a lot of water, and they need intravenous infusion to prevent dehydration and also help maintain kidney function. At the same time, dogs often do not excrete excess caffeine when urinating, because the bladder wall will reabsorb these caffeine, so the doctor will also insert a catheter into the dog to let the caffeine be excreted as soon as possible. In severe cases, dogs also need to take some medications to stop epilepsy or lower blood pressure and stabilize their heartbeat. After the dog's condition is stable, it is necessary to be hospitalized for a few days until the symptoms disappear.
Coffee is poisonous to dogs and cats. It is best for owners to put coffee beans and instant coffee powder at home where their dogs cannot touch it. If the dog really accidentally eats coffee-related foods, it is best for the owner to contact the pet doctor for advice in time.