Many of us start off the day with coffee. It’s a great way to get that jolt to wake up and get the energy to start the day! We may use espresso beans, coffee grounds, dried coffee, and other forms. But they all contain caffeine.
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What happens if your dog eats espresso beans? Are the espresso beans toxic to your dog?
What are Espresso Beans?
Espresso beans are coffee beans that are used to make espresso. The beans may be roasted or un-roasted and then used in an espresso machine. In fact, espresso is the term used for the type of brewing process used to make the coffee.
Coffee beans used to make espresso are usually the Arabica coffee bean, which can be made into various blends. “Espresso” refers to how the coffee is brewed. This is typically done using an espresso machine.
Espresso is full of flavor and is a strong type of coffee. It has a thick consistency, with a robust taste. This type of coffee requires a specific brewing temperature, which is created by the espresso machine. The process forces hot water over the bean. The water goes over the beans and is filtered. And you’ll need a coffee grinder to grind the beans to put into the espresso machine.
While this sounds really great, can espresso beans make your dog sick?
Espresso & Other Forms of Coffee are Toxic to Dogs
Whether you enjoy an espresso or another type of coffee, you’ll want to know that these drinks and the beans are toxic to dogs (and cats). Any type of caffeine is toxic to dogs, whether it comes from chocolate, caffeine pills, and more.
Dogs (and cats) should never be allowed to eat coffee beans or drink coffee. This because these items contain a large amount of caffeine. Just one espresso bean is enough to kill some dogs. What’s more, it takes about 30 minutes for symptoms to set in.
Toxicity is determined by the type of bean, the amount of caffeine a dog ingests, and the size of the dog. That means a small dog faces a higher level of toxicity than a large dog. However, remember that any form of caffeine is toxic to all dogs.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Caffeine Toxicity in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has ingested coffee or coffee beans:
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Hyperactivity
- Vomiting
- Panting heavily
- Tremors/seizures
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, then you’ll need to call the vet immediately. This is a life-threatening medical emergency.
To keep your dog from becoming poisoned by caffeine, be sure to never allow him to have coffee, eat coffee beans, or have access to medications or food containing caffeine. You and your dog will be much happier for it!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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