Read This Before Sharing Some Coffee With Your Dog!

Last Updated on

Straight to the point: Coffee could be downright dangerous for your dog.

There’s actually no debate! Anything caffeinated should be off limits to animals.

Can I Give My Dog Coffee?As a diuretic, coffee obviously cannot hydrate your hound. But more importantly, too much can be lethal.

Here’s the good news:

There is likely no serious cause for concern if your dog had a bit of morning jo (more on this later).

But the answer to this question is easy…

Dogs Should Never Have Coffee

Sharing is definitely a bad idea.

Are you a coffee drinker with a pet dog?

Don’t forget to properly dispose of coffee grounds so your best buddy cannot possibly get their paws on it!

Why This Brew is Bad

Regular coffee, especially the caffeinated kind, could cause a canine to experience the following:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Restlessness
  • Hyperactivity
  • Hypertension
  • Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
  • High blood pressure
  • Tremors
  • Seizures

Your dog’s nervous system may be disrupted (Ataxia).

That’s not all!

Behavioral changes are also to be expected. Serious stuff indeed.

An overdose is even a possibility if enough coffee was swallowed and absorption occurs pretty fast — usually within 45 minutes.

So it cannot be stressed enough that your dog should never consume coffee, period!

The Truth About Decaf

Decaffeinated coffee is, in fact, less harmful for dogs. While that is true, decaf is not recommended either.

There are still low levels of caffeine present and possibly its metabolic precursor ie. Theobromine.

It does not matter what type of coffee you have. Strive to keep your dog’s life simple.

Dogs Die From Coffee?

We know that caffeine is quite a strong stimulant.

No doubt, dogs are more sensitive to what’s in coffee compared to adult humans.

The truth is caffeine can be fatal due to cardiac arrhythmia. You can read about specific cases by visiting the American College of Medical Toxicology’s in-depth report.

As to what is a lethal dose, it is really hard to say.

An amount of caffeine somewhere around 140mg per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of your dog’s body-weight would be extremely concerning. So for each 10 pounds, 600mg is approaching death.

But, keep in mind, there are potentially harmful effects at much lower doses.

Caution: Teas, chocolate, energy drinks, sodas, puddings and even some cereals have this popular psychoactive drug.

How To Handle Poisoning

Did your dog accidentally have some coffee?

While caffeine toxicity can be quite serious, there may not be adverse effects. It mainly depends on how much was ingested and the pet’s sensitivity to this menacing Methylxanthine class drug.

Get your vet’s help as soon as possible if your dog exhibits any of the previously-mentioned signs.

You can’t be too careful when it comes to canine coffee consumption. Do not wait!

The Bottom Line

Play it safe and never give your dog any amount of coffee.

Even a taste is questionable. This goes for both caffeinated, but also decaffeinated brands.

Sometimes there are grave consequence for dogs when they’re allowed to drink this morning beverage. Too much and your animal could even die.

Coffee is a big no-no!

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

Was This Article Helpful?

5 thoughts on “Read This Before Sharing Some Coffee With Your Dog!”

  1. I understand the wisdom of not feeding a dog coffee. But would it make any difference if the beverage was decaffeinated? I welcome any opinions.

  2. When I was young we had a 100 pound Lab female. My Mother would share the end of her coffee with our dog Midnight nearly every night. I guess this started at at about 5-6 years old. She never showed any nervousness or odd behavior. Midnight lived till the age of 16. Now I have another Lab but no coffee for her.

  3. Last night my 15 pound, 11 year old mini Schnauzer had a half-mug (about 6 fluid ounces) of strong black tea with milk. I was unaware of it until this morning, but I could not fail to notice his behavior.

    He was extremely hyperactive, restless, with lots of moaning and short sharp barks. I got up several times, refilled his food bowl, refreshed his water, let him out and back in several times. However, he did not settle down.

    Toward morning he dozed a little. When I realized he had drunk up the mug, I knew that he had suffered from caffeine poisoning. I think his abdomen looks a bit enlarged, as if his pancreas is affected. I shall take him to the vet today.

  4. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, not a depressant. Like other stimulants, such as amphetamines or cocaine, it has side effects such as diuresis (excess urine production) and dehydration as a consequence. It can also alter perceptions and brain function, leading to behavioral problems.

  5. My dog once ate a 1/4 of a cup of coffee grounds. She had to be at the pet hospital for 3 weeks because she was poisoned from the coffee. So unless you want to pay a lot of money to fix your dog, I wouldn’t!

Leave a Reply to Mary Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *