Coffee Grounds

We live in an apartment complex on the second floor. The people below us like to garden (in pots) and I sincerely believe that they were not aware of the danger coffee grounds, sometimes used in gardening, pose to puppies.

This past weekend Kaylee woke us up and, while drowsy, we took her out to the back of out building. Kaylee rooted a bit and then looked like she was chewing something. My husband and I quickly tried to get whatever it was out of her mouth. It was a bunch of coffee grounds, likely used but we were still worried. She probably ate a few teaspoons of the stuff before we could stop her. We were expecting it to be sticks, poo or something.

A phone call and subsequent page from an emergency vet at Virginia Tech later, we find out that fortunately that amount will not be too toxic, even if they were fresh coffee grounds, but we should expect vomiting and diarrhea. She did not recommend inducing vomiting. If they were used grounds, the risk of illness was even less. She did become more hyper than normal for a bit, but not digestive problems.

Today, a few days later, Kaylee is doing and showing no symptoms. So, please be careful with your rooting pups, coffee grounds and call your emergency vet for quick poisoning help. They will help even if you don't bring your pup in to the office and pay the emergency fee.

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Comment by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on September 17, 2012 at 6:04pm: The grounds were actually on the ground about 4 ft from their plants. I assume they were cleaning out old pots or something, but I am going to ask them to be more careful. I think most people know about chocolate, but other dog toxins aren't as well known to non-dog owners.

Comment by Tomahawk and Fences on September 17, 2012 at 4:23pm: Tomahawk was sniffing around some coffee grounds I dropped on the kitchen floor today, he didn't seem to like the smell because he gave me a look like, "How do you expect me to eat this? What? YOU drink this stuff!?". You always have to be careful with these wild and crazy animals, they always find a way of getting into things they shouldn't.

Comment by Lemmy Winks on September 17, 2012 at 2:50pm: More then likely they were used. I use my used coffee grounds on my tomato plants, and this is what I've been told by several people to do.
Can you ask your neighbors if they could put the plants with the grounds on a higher surface? I keep mine on a little table because Pilot likes to try and eat the dirt. ^_^ I'm sure they'd understand if you just explain the danger. Glad she's ok!

Comment by Jane Christensen on September 17, 2012 at 8:56am: I know of a woman who was gone on vacation and had several cats...they got into instant coffee(I believe ) and actually died from it:( I don't know what would be so interesting about coffee but I guess there is. Glad you caught it right away. Thanks for the reminder.