Caffeine Poisoning in Pets: What You Need to Know

(Co-Written by Renee Jones-Lewis and Lauren Murphree)

Happy Fall Y’all! The weather is cooling and people are warming up with Pumpkin Spice Lattes. While it might be tempting to share the last sip with your furry friend, it’s a better idea to skip any beverages and food with caffeine in them. Although we enjoy these tasty drinks, many people don’t realize that caffeine is dangerous to pets.

Symptoms of Caffeine Poisoning:

Symptoms can onset within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last up to 12 hours. If your pet has had a lap or two of your drink, it's unlikely that they will suffer any ill effects. However, each pet is affected differently by caffeine. Caffeine affects pets per body weight, meaning different levels of caffeine may result in different levels of poisoning. Research suggests caffeine is lethal at 70 mg per 1 lb body weight. For example, instant coffee contains 60 mg of caffeine per teaspoon. That means that 4 teaspoons of instant coffee could be fatal to a 5-pound dog. Other caffeinated beverages such as tea, soda, and energy drinks pose no lesser threat to your cat or dog than coffee.

Common Symptoms of Caffeine Poisoning can include:

• Vomiting
• Elevated heart rate
• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Hypertension
• Hyperthermia
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

Please Remember: If you believe that your pet has ingested too much caffeine, veterinarian intervention is necessary to ensure a complete recovery.

Sugar Rush, It's Dangerous

Alongside caffeine, added sugars and additional ingredients can also negatively impact your pet’s health. Many of the drinks that help warm us up in the Fall have added milk, cream, and whipped cream. Some dogs can tolerate lactose with no problem, while others are severely lactose intolerant. These dogs could experience excessive gas, bloating, diarrhea and vomiting. Although many people believe that milk is fine to give to cats, all cats are actually lactose intolerant. The amount of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) that the body produces declines after weaning.

The next time you're at the local cafe, plan ahead and bring along a treat that is not only appropriate but one that they will love! Jeffers offers a wide variety of both cat treats and dog treats that are delicious alternatives to caffeinated beverages.

---

Thank you for reading and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Pet Specialist, Renee Jones. Reach her via e-mail at rsjones@jefferspet.com or by calling 1-800-533-3377 and asking for Renee. For more products, please go to Jefferspet.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures and to keep up with our specials, promos, and videos/pictures of cute pets! This blog is meant to be helpful and educational. It should not supersede, challenge, or supplant the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a licensed veterinarian. Click here to read "Is Pumpkin Safe to Give to Your Pet".