What if My Dog Drank Liquor?

If you have a dog in your life, it's your job to make sure he's safe, whether from temperature extremes, inappropriate food and beverage items or anything else. Since liquor is a type of alcohol, it's crucial to make sure your pooch never goes anywhere near it, much less consumes it.

  1. Toxic

    • Alcohol is toxic to canines, whether in the form of a drink or a pasta sauce that includes the stuff as an ingredient. Canines rapidly soak up alcohol and can therefore experience pretty swift reactions to it. Not only can it reduce a dog's blood pressure and glucose, it can lead to serious breathing issues and havoc on the kidneys, as well. Never keep liquor -- or any alcohol -- anywhere that is accessible to your precious pooch. If you're unsure as to what food and drink items contain alcohol as an ingredient, speak to your veterinarian. Even bread dough that's raw is a hazard in this department. Never assume that any food or beverage is safe for your pet without veterinary confirmation.

    Symptoms

    • If your dog drank liquor, it might bring upon some key symptoms of alcohol poisoning. He might display issues with walking. He might start throwing up. He might behave in an unusually confused manner. You also might observe fainting, feebleness and excessive salivation. All of these symptoms point to a poor dog who just drank liquor or anything else that contains alcohol -- not good. In severe instances, alcohol can even induce comas in dogs.

    Warning

    • If your dog only had a sip or two of liquor, don't brush it off as being inconsequential. No amount of alcohol is too insignificant to be dangerous to dogs, period. What might seem like a little bit of alcohol can actually be fatal to some doggies, especially if they're tiny.

    Veterinary Attention

    • Immediate veterinary assistance is a must for any dogs who have ingested any alcohol. Don't waste time in contacting the vet, no matter what time of day or night it is. Veterinary management of alcohol toxicity in dogs is a case-by-case situation, and often involves things such as intravenous fluid therapy and close examination of heart rate and blood sugar. Only a veterinarian can decide what exact management option is most suitable for your specific cutie.