PETS
C4 | FEBRUARY 4, 2024
DESIREE CARLOS, Editor email: daycarlos28@yahoo.com
CAFFEINE POISONING IN DOGS Caffeine acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system, immediately seek veterinary assistance if your pet has consumed caffeine. (Photo from iStock | amenic181)
By Niko Gabriel Salgado
What to Do if Your Dog Drinks Coffee
C
AFFEINE is a crystalline compound present in tea and coffee plants. It serves as an added ingredient in various foods and medications to function as a stimulant for the central nervous system. While for humans, consuming caffeine on a daily dose is normal, it is crucial to note that for dogs, it is considered toxic. Caffeine is commonly found in coffee, tea, coffee grounds, tea bags, diet pills, and soda. Caffeine toxicity in dogs occurs when dogs ingest caffeine, whether it is from coffee, other caffeinated substances, or chocolate. Given that caffeine acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system, immediately seek veterinary assistance if your pet has consumed caffeine.
Why Do Dogs Drink Coffee?
“Dogs are curious beings. It is in their nature to smell, or lick various things. Occasionally, they may consume grass, rocks, toilet paper, and even exhibit the rather unappealing behavior of eating feces,” said Dr. Renee Burgin in “Caffeine and Dogs” published in the Pets United website.
If you suspect that your dog has ingested coffee or coffee-related products such as beans or grounds, contact your veterinarian immediately. Be prepared with information about your dog’s weight and the quantity of coffee they may have consumed.
Symptoms of Caffeine Poisoning
You can typically see signs of caffeine toxicity within 30 to 60 minutes of consumption. Symptoms can last anywhere between 12 hours to several days. You’ll need to monitor Causes of Caffeine Poisoning in Dogs your dog for any of these symptoms: • Agitation Caffeine poisoning in dogs results from in• Restlessness gesting a food item or medication containing • Vomiting caffeine. While mild effects may occur with the • Panting consumption of small amounts, the situation • Elevated heart rate can escalate if a substantial portion is ingested • Elevated blood pressure – for instance, if your pet consumes both the • Abnormal heart rhythms coffee filter and its contents. • Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) In extreme situations, your dog may experiAccording to Burgin, the effects can be: ence collapse, tremors, and seizures. Excessive • Neurologic (for example seizures) caffeine intake can be fatal for your pet, but the • Metabolic lethal dose varies based on the size of your dog. • Gastrointestinal (vomiting) • Pulmonary How Veterinarians Treat • Cardiovascular (heart abnormalities)
How to Prevent Your Dog from Drinking Coffee
• While a small amount of brewed coffee might not pose an issue for larger dogs, it is advisable to never provide coffee in any form as a treat. • While it can be enjoyable to treat your canine companion, providing them with human treats like chocolate can cause harm or even be fatal to them. • Ensure that all caffeinated items such as coffee, coffee grounds, coffee beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and tea bags are stored off the ground and away from your dogs. After completing your morning coffee preparation, consistently place the pot and cup in a location that is not easily accessible, preventing the risk of it being knocked over and licked from the ground. • When disposing of your coffee grounds, seal the trash bag securely and ensure it is entirely inaccessible to your dog. • Encourage your children, family members, roommates, and guests to be mindful that coffee should be kept out of reach of your dog.
Recovery of Caffeine Poisoning in Dogs
The extent of recovery depends on the quantity of caffeine ingested. Untreated cases Your vet might advise you to observe of caffeine poisoning, resulting in central your dog for signs of caffeine poisoning and nervous system complications like seizures or instruct you to contact them if the situation collapse, can be fatal for dogs. However, with deteriorates. There's a possibility they may prompt treatment, the prognosis is generally positive. suggest bringing your dog in for a thorough examination. Following successful treatment, your “If it's within a few hours of the caffeine inveterinarian will provide detailed post-care gestion, the veterinarian might consider induc- instructions, which may include guidelines ing vomiting to prevent further absorption of on administering medications, potential side the substance,” said Burgin. effects to monitor, and other at-home care “It's crucial never to attempt inducing vomit- instructions. A follow-up appointment will be recommended for the veterinarian to assess ing without professional guidance. In some cases, activated charcoal may be administered your dog's ongoing recovery. to help eliminate toxins from the body without absorption into the bloodstream,” Burgin About the Author: Niko Gabriel Salgado is a added. graduate of consular and diplomatic affairs from Additionally, your vet might provide fluids to De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, and worked aid in flushing out caffeine or prescribe mediat the House of Representatives. He is now an encations to manage symptoms such as elevated trepreneur and a volunteer of the animal welfare heart rates, tremors, and seizures. group Save Animals of Love and Light- Save ALL
Caffeine Poisoning
While a small amount of brewed coffee might not pose an issue for larger dogs, it is advisable to never provide coffee in any form as a treat. (Photo from iStock | Ksenia Raykova)
SAVE ALL ASKS BUCOR: CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMS RATHER THAN BAN STRAYS FROM PRISONS Last of 2 parts Skow's initiative has not only provided inmates with a newfound sense of purpose but has also yielded staggering results—marked reductions in recidivism rates and successful reintegration into society for program graduates.
Rehabilitation for Dogs and Inmates: The TAILS Program in Florida
Moving across the country to Florida, in the article, "Prison animal programs are benefitting both inmates and hard-to-adopt dogs in Florida, experts say" by Julia Jacobo, the TAILS program has redefined the rehabilitation paradigm for both at-risk dogs and inmates. Designed to pair at-risk dogs with incarcerated individuals, TAILS aims to foster an environment where inmates learn valuable skills in grooming, animal training, and preparing dogs for service roles. This program's rigorous screening process ensures that both inmates and dogs involved are prepared for the transformative journey ahead. The outcomes have been exceptional, leading to positive behavioral changes among inmates and providing them with educational and vocational opportunities that support their reintegration into society post-release. "We take the dogs who need us the most," Deane said, adding that they reside at the correctional facility full-time for the length of the program, sleeping in cages next to their trainers in dorms that hold many convicts. According to Jen Deane, executive director of TAILS and Pit Sisters, a Jacksonville-based group that rescues dogs from local shelters. Deane described the practice as being a "very strict
process" for vetting both convicts and pets. Inmates who have been accused with any violent or animal-related offense are not eligible, nor may they have had any behavioral difficulties while jailed, thus participation in the program is effectively a prize for good behavior. Even after the pets graduate, offenders are allowed to continue in the program and receive a new puppy "pretty quickly," according to Deane.
The Impact of Prison Pet Partnership: Transforming Lives Beyond Bars
In the article, “Prison Pet Partnership: Dogs and Inmates Helping Each Other” by Dr. Ruth MacPete, DVM, a shining example of the profound synergy between inmate rehabilitation and animal welfare lies in the inspiring story of the Prison Pet Partnership in Gig Harbor, Washington. Founded in 1981 by Sister Pauline, a Dominican nun, and Dr. Leo Bustad, the program embodies a belief in the rehabilitative power of the human-animal bond. Working within the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW), the partnership's primary objective is to equip inmates with essential skills—ranging from grooming to advanced animal training, preparing dogs for service roles. Through the decades, the Prison Pet Partnership has not only rescued over 700 dogs from shelters but has also served as a beacon of hope for inmates seeking a path toward redemption and reintegration into society. In this unique program, inmates receive invaluable companionship from their temporary furry friends, fostering responsibility, unconditional love, and a profound sense of accomplishment as their trained dogs graduate to become service animals or beloved pets in homes. The program operates a state-of-the-art kennel and
An inmate take his dog (assigned to him) on a walk and is training him basic commands. (Photo from Getty royalty-free images.) grooming facility within the corrections center, providing inmates with hands-on grooming and boarding experience, ultimately leading to their accreditation as licensed pet groomers. Moreover, the rigorous training regimen for service dogs becomes a transformative journey, forging unbreakable bonds between inmates and the dogs they train, even if some dogs don't meet service standards, they find loving homes due to their exceptional training. The holistic success of the Prison Pet Partnership extends far beyond the confines of the correctional facility.
Notably, it positively impacts rescued animals, deserving recipients of service animals, and the communities awaiting the return of rehabilitated inmates who, armed with newfound skills and a renewed sense of purpose, contribute positively to their societies. About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist, writer, and tutor. She has been a solo parent for 17 years now because she is wife to a desaparecido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.