Can Dogs Drink Alcohol?
No — dogs should never consume alcohol in any form. Dogs are far more sensitive to ethanol than humans: their smaller body mass, faster absorption rate, and less efficient liver metabolism mean that even a small amount of alcohol can cause rapid and severe intoxication. A tablespoon of spirits could cause serious harm to a small dog. Alcohol poisoning in dogs can cause hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar), hypothermia, respiratory depression, and in severe cases, death.
Why Is Alcohol Dangerous for Dogs?
When a dog ingests alcohol (ethanol), it is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier quickly. Dogs have less body mass and less efficient hepatic (liver) metabolism than humans, meaning alcohol reaches toxic concentrations faster and stays in the body longer.
The physiological effects include acute CNS (central nervous system) depression causing sedation, disorientation, and incoordination; dangerous drops in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) which can cause seizures; severe drops in body temperature (hypothermia); reduced respiratory rate which can progress to respiratory failure in serious cases; and vomiting, which carries a risk of aspiration pneumonia if the dog is unconscious.
Hidden Sources of Alcohol
The obvious sources — beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails — are well known, but alcohol is also found in less obvious places that dog owners should be aware of.
Raw bread dough and pizza dough are particularly dangerous because yeast fermentation produces ethanol inside the warm, moist environment of a dog's stomach. A dog that eats raw dough can become severely intoxicated as the dough continues to rise and produce alcohol after ingestion. Alcohol is also present in some fruit cake, Christmas pudding, stollen, and rum truffle-style confectionery; fermented or overripe fruit; some mouthwashes and hand sanitisers; and certain liquid medications. Always store bread dough in a secure location that dogs cannot access.
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning in Dogs
Symptoms appear quickly — often within 30 to 60 minutes of ingestion — and include vomiting, disorientation and wobbling, lethargy and weakness, excessive drooling, low body temperature (the dog may feel cold to the touch), low blood sugar (causing trembling or seizures), slow and shallow breathing, and collapse or unconsciousness.
Small dogs, puppies, and elderly dogs are at the greatest risk and can deteriorate rapidly. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount consumed, the strength of the alcohol, and the size of the dog.
What to Do If Your Dog Drinks Alcohol
Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your dog has consumed any significant amount of alcohol. Do not attempt to make your dog vomit unless specifically instructed by a vet — in a sedated or drowsy dog, vomiting carries a serious risk of aspiration into the lungs.
Your vet may administer intravenous fluids and glucose to treat hypoglycaemia, provide temperature support for hypothermia, and monitor respiratory function. In the UK, if your vet is unavailable out of hours, call the Animal Poison Line on 01202 509 000. Recovery is generally possible with prompt treatment, but time is important.
Preventing Accidental Alcohol Ingestion
Always store alcoholic drinks where your dog cannot reach them. During parties and gatherings, remind guests not to leave drinks unattended where dogs can lap from glasses. Be particularly careful at Christmas and Easter when alcohol-containing foods are more prevalent in the home.
Never leave raw bread dough unattended on a counter, and store it in the oven (switched off) or a secured cupboard while proving. If your dog is known to counter-surf or steal food, this is a particularly important precaution.