Can Shih-Tzu drink tea?
Most dogs will happily eat or drink whatever is put in front of them but as you may or may not know, not all human foods and drinks are safe for dogs and Shih-Tzus to consume. The last thing anybody wants is to cause their best friend to have any stomach aches or pains.
I was a little curious about what I could let my Shih Tzu drink as a little treat and decided to do some research. In this article, I will look a little deeper to see can Shih-Tzu drink tea? and if not, why not…
Can Shih-Tzu drink tea?
Shih-Tzu should not drink tea because it contains caffeine which is toxic for dogs. In enough quantity, caffeinated drinks will raise a dog’s heart rate and for small dogs especially this is very dangerous as they are smaller and more susceptible. Whilst a small amount of tea is unlikely to have any real adverse effects, it is not really worthwhile either. It is best to stay clear of tea in general.
Tea can contain multiple stimulants and toxins that can cause a variety of health problems for Shih-Tzu and other dogs too. Here is a shortlist of some of the health issues associated with drinking too much tea
- Heartbeat’s irregularly
- Hyperactivity
- A rise in body temperature
- Vomiting
- Increased blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Death
Shih-Tzu’s are such a small breed that it would not take much to poison them. Be careful not to leave a tea mug where your dog could reach it and drink when unattended. It is important to note that often tea has more caffeine than coffee but due to the brewing process less is mixed into your drink. This, therefore, means that if a Shih-Tzu was to eat a teabag then it could be extremely harmful.
Can my Shih-Tzu drink coffee?
No, unfortunately, they can not. As with tea and other caffeinated drinks they can be harmful to you Shih-Tzu. The toxins in caffeine can poison them so it is very important to be aware of this and prevent them from having coffee.
If you are like me and you drink a lot of coffee then you may find that occasionally you may spill coffee grounds on the floor from time to time. Just beware of this as dogs are very inquisitive and wouldn’t think twice about eating it. After all, they eat much worse right?
How much caffeine can a Shih-Tzu drink?
Whilst you should always make sure that they don’t have any at all, realistically they could lap up a spillage before you manage to clean it up or stop them. A small amount is unlikely to cause harm but the smaller the dog the less it will take for the toxicity to affect them.
According to vetmeds.org the amount of caffeine that is toxic to a Shih-Tzu-sized dog would be 38.5oz of tea, 1oz of coffee beans, or 38.5oz of regular coffee. I worked out that 38.5oz of coffee is just over 1 kilogram of coffee. That would be likely around 2 very large mugs of coffee which is unlikely for them to get access to. The bigger worry would be coffee grounds or diet pills which also contain large amounts of caffeine.
What to do if you if your dog drinks coffee?
If you know your Shih-Tzu has only had a small amount of caffeine from perhaps a mug of tea or coffee then you should keep a close eye on them to see if you notice any strange symptoms. The chances are that with small amounts they will likely be fine.
If you suspect your Shih-Tzu has consumed a large amount of caffeine then it would be best to call the vet and seek medical advice. Whilst caffeine toxicity in your Shih-Tzu can be scary it will most likely be fine.
Summary
So I hope this has helped answer the question can Shih-Tzu drink tea? The answer is no. Caffeinated drinks just simply are not good for dogs, let alone such a small breed. Whilst a small amount is unlikely to cause harm it is just better to stay clear and give them plenty of good quality H2O instead.