Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/can-dog-drink-coffee/

Most people tend to share everything with their dogs. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and our dog gives us more than we could ever give them in return.

That being said, it’s also important to be in the know so you can take good care of your dog and don’t kill them with kindness.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of food items on the list of those that would be harmful to a dog and must be avoided.

Most of us are aware of the fact that we should not be feeding our dogs chocolate. To do so could be harmful or perhaps even deadly. It seems as if coffee may be on the same list.

There is a lot of caffeine in an average cup of coffee and it is far too much for dogs to handle. Of course, you have to consider the size of your dog and whether they only took a few sips out of your cup or if they managed to down an entire quart.

Provet reports that caffeine has a lethal dose if the dog drinks 150 mg for every 2.2 pounds of body weight. An average cup of brewed coffee has 100 mg of caffeine.

If you drink decaffeinated coffee, you can share the decaf with your pet.

Caffeine poisoning is a very serious issue and it doesn’t happen right away. It may take a couple of hours before the signs and symptoms begin to show.

Some of those symptoms may be an inconvenience but others, such as tremors, rapid heart rate, restlessness, and vomiting, could be more concerning. Your dog may even have seizures, which would be a quick trip to the veterinarian.

If it is determined that your dog has caffeine poisoning, the best thing to do is to induce vomiting. This should only be done if your dog has consumed a lot of caffeine.

If they only had a few drinks out of your cup by accident, the veterinarian may choose to give them some antiseizure drugs or drugs to keep their blood pressure at a lower level.

Along with those medications, your dog may need to be sedated until the symptoms pass.

Caffeine is not only found in coffee, you can get it in many different forms. It could be in your teabag from your morning tea or in those diet pills you have been saving up for your New Year’s resolution.

The best thing is to keep caffeine away from your dog, or even better, to get some high-quality dog food for your furry friend and only feed them that.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog