Overview

Caffeine is toxic to dogs and cats. Like chocolate, caffeine contains methylxanthines that pets metabolize much more slowly than humans. Sources of caffeine poisoning in pets include coffee (grounds and beans are the most concentrated), tea, energy drinks, soda, diet pills, caffeine supplements, and certain medications like Excedrin or NoDoz. Coffee grounds and whole beans are particularly dangerous because of their high caffeine concentration - a dog that raids the trash and eats used coffee grounds needs emergency care. The lethal dose of caffeine in dogs is approximately 140 mg per kilogram of body weight, but serious symptoms can occur at much lower doses.

Symptoms

Restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, seizures

Typical onset

1-2 hours

What to do

Seek emergency care for significant ingestion. Includes coffee, tea, energy drinks, caffeine pills.