Having a dog can be a lot of fun! You’ve not got a buddy to run with and a loyal companion to sit by your side. But dogs can also be quite mischievous, and this can lead them getting into something that they shouldn’t like coffee beans.
If your dog has recently eaten some coffee beans, don’t panic just yet, as it takes quite a bit of coffee beans to kill a dog. The exact amount of coffee beans that can kill your dog will vary on your size and breed of dog, as well as what happens after the coffee beans are consumed.
Are you afraid your dog might have eaten a lot of coffee beans? Then keep reading to find out if you should be worried and the steps you should take when your dog gets into the coffee beans.
In This Guide...
Will Coffee Beans Kill a Dog?
Coffee beans, coffee grounds, and brewed coffee all contain caffeine which is indeed lethal to dogs in large doses. This means you should never let your dog have coffee beans, as eating too many will kill your dog.
However, if your dog has perhaps only eaten one coffee bean, there is no need to rush them to the vet just yet. This is especially true when they are a large dog like an Australian Cattle Dog or German Shepherd, as it will take a lot of caffeine to hurt these breeds. This is because it takes 14mg of caffeine per pound of body weight to cause caffeine toxicity in dogs.
If you have a smaller dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, or any Toy size breed, you will want to monitor your dog closely. Although it is unlikely that a single bean could kill them, you want to be safe than sorry. You should take your dog to the vet at the first symptoms of caffeine toxicity.
When you are sure your dog has eaten a few coffee beans, or perhaps a handful, you need to be concerned no matter what the size of dog.
What Happens When a Dog Eats Coffee Beans?
Dogs are affected by caffeine just as humans are. But because they are much smaller, the caffeine can have deadly effects when they have too much. Their bodies also have difficulty with the side effects that come with caffeine. This is why you should never be allowed to eat coffee beans.
Sometimes, by the time you notice your dog had gotten into something, like the trash, it can be too late to stop them from eating something. This could result in them getting ahold of coffee beans.
If you suspect your dog has eaten coffee beans, you need to monitor for symptoms of caffeine toxicity. The symptoms are as follows:
- Vomiting
- Panting
- Restlessness
- Unusual Agitation
- Heart Beating Faster than Normal
- Heart Beating Abnormally
- High Body Temperature
- Collapse or Seizure
When your dog presents any of these symptoms, you need to rush them to the vet right away. It is still likely that the vet can save your dog, but you need to move quickly.
For best results, you should try your best to estimate how many coffee beans your dog has eaten, as the vet may ask for this information. You will also want to check the bag the coffee beans came in so you can estimate how many mg of caffeine the dog has consumed.
What Should I Do if My Dog Has Eaten Coffee Beans?
When you know for a fact that your dog has consumed a large amount of coffee beans or coffee grounds, it is better to act quickly than to wait for the symptoms of caffeine toxicity to appear.
First and foremost, you will want to have an idea of how many coffee beans your pet ate. With that information in hand, you will want to call the National Pet Poison Helpline. They will be able to give you a better idea of what you need to based on your specific dog breed.
They will also be able to direct you towards emergency vet care in your area. This way you can get helps for your pet right away. If your vet is closed, or perhaps unavailable, the next thing you should try is to induce vomiting in your dog to rid their stomach of the coffee beans.
How to Induce Vomiting in a Dog
If your dog has just recently eaten the coffee beans, it is likely that you can induce them to vomit them back up and save yourself a costly trip to the vet. If some time has passed however, or your dog is showing symptoms of caffeine toxicity, do not induce vomiting and take them straight to the vet.
Inducing vomiting in a dog can be a difficult procedure, and it is always best to have a veterinarian do it for you rather than attempting it on your own.
But if you must induce vomiting in your dog, you will need to give them two teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 pounds of body weight. Dogs do not like hydrogen peroxide, so you may want to mix it with something tasty your dog will like, such as milk or cream.
You will need to hold them down, and pour the mixture down their throat all at once. You will likely want to do this outside, and let them run around afterwards. They should vomit within 10 minutes.
If they haven’t vomited in the allotted 10 minutes, you can repeat the procedure once. If they still don’t vomit, do not repeat the process and instead seek immediate veterinary care.
Final Thoughts
While eating one coffee bean won’t kill your dog, there is a possibility eating too many can be deadly for your dog. Therefore all coffee beans should be kept out of your dog’s reach.
If your dog does accidentally get into coffee beans, take note of how much they consume, and watch for symptoms of caffeine toxicity. It is advised that you take them to the vet, especially if they are a small dog, or have consumed a large amount of coffee beans.