If you see your cat touching or chewing a portion of a coffee tree, or if you are starting to notice signs of coffee poisoning, take it immediately to a veterinarian. Describe the symptoms you have observed and when they started. If you can bring a part of the tree you saw chewing your cat, or if you have a sample of your vomit, this will help the vet make a diagnosis. You can also take a picture of the tree if there is not a small piece to wear at the vet. There is no test to diagnose coffee poisoning in cats; the diagnosis will be made after reading the symptoms and analyzing the contents of the vomit, if any. The vet can also choose to examine the contents of the cat's stomach to look for clues to the possible causes of these symptoms.
Once the vet has concluded that your cat suffers from coffee poisoning, it will immediately start the treatment. Your cat may need to receive intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea. Thus, the vet will cause vomiting and may also give activated charcoal after the end of the vomit. Activated charcoal will absorb toxins that have not been removed from the cat's system during vomiting. Gastric lavage can also be performed, a medical term for the process of cleaning the cat's stomach with liquids.
If your cat has had no gastrointestinal symptoms, it may only suffer from topical exposure to coffee. In this case, the vet may only need to administer a corticosteroid to relieve the swelling and inflammation of the affected skin. Your veterinarian may recommend that you keep the cat for 24-48 hours after treatment so that your condition does not get worse. This is especially common in cases where the cat is severely dehydrated and needs intravenous fluids. Recovery of coffee poisoning in cats Most cats will recover completely from coffee poisoning. In fact, it is very rare for a cat to suffer from complications after ingesting a portion of a coffee plant. As with other types of poisoning, the faster your cat will be treated by a veterinarian, the more likely it is to recover completely.
Ask your vet if you need to change your cat's diet in the coming days as his body regains strength. After treatment, the cat's stomach may be sensitive; the vet might then ask you to give him only soft foods until he is completely healed. You will need to keep the cat away from any extra coffee exposure. If the tree is in your garden or a neighbor, it may be best to keep the cat at home as much as possible to limit exposure.
Coffee plants are considered toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of caffeine contained in fruits, leaves and beans. Caffeine in coffee trees is a natural way of plant defense that protects the seeds of the plant from consumption.
These plants should be kept away from pets (especially dogs and cats) and children. Find out more about common indoor plants that are toxic in Do not feed for your cat! Guide to toxic internal plants
Many common products contain caffeine, including coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and some supplements (for example, pre-training and weight loss supplements). Caffeine and theobromine, a chemical substance linked to caffeine, are also found in chocolate. Dogs and cats seem to be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than humans. It is unlikely that one or two shots of coffee, tea or soda will cause poisoning in most pets. However, ingestion of unused coffee or beans, tea bags or unused coffee supplements can cause severe toxicity in dogs and cats. Depending on the amount ingested, signs of hyperactivity, restlessness, vomiting, acceleration of heart rate, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and high body temperature can be observed. In severe cases, convulsions, collapse and death are possible.
Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than humans. While 1-2 rounds of coffee, tea or soda do not contain enough caffeine to cause poisoning in most pets, ingesting moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags, or 1 to 2 diet pills can easily cause death in small dogs and cats.
Induce vomiting and administer several doses of activated carbon to decontaminate. Invasive intravenous fluids to help excretion, sedative to calm specific cardiac medications of animal origin to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, anticonvulsants for convulsions, antacids (such as Pepcid) for stomach upset and diarrhea. Caffeine can be reabsorbed along the bladder wall; it is therefore necessary to use a urinary catheter or frequent walks to keep the bladder empty.
Pet owners may not realize that caffeine can be harmful to their pets. They may not know that many foods and drinks in their lockers contain caffeine. Most people mention coffee as the number one source of caffeine. And they are right. Most families have coffee in the pantry. But tea and drinks are full of caffeine. And do not forget these energy drinks or sports drinks in the fridge. Diet pills and over-the-counter products like No Doz are other common sources of caffeine. These products can be candied with caffeine.
These are commonly recognized stimulants, but did you know that your favorite chocolate bar also contains caffeine? Chocolate is a source of theobromine, a close relative of caffeine. Even our sweets can damage our pets. Ice cream and coffee liqueurs are other delicious sources of caffeine. And chocolate-covered coffee beans are a double threat!
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