Drinks
Can dogs eat beer and alcohol?
Pets are much smaller than us and their liver handles alcohol poorly. Even a small amount can cause drunkenness, low blood sugar and breathing problems.
Why Ethanol
By Maya Hart
If your dog ate some
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine.
- Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight.
- Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.
- Raw bread dough ferments into alcohol in the stomach, so treat it the same way.
Signs to watch for
- Wobbliness and disorientation
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Slow breathing
- Low body temperature
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs Toxic
No. Pets are much smaller than us and their liver handles alcohol poorly. Even a small amount can cause drunkenness, low blood sugar and breathing problems.
Cats Toxic
No. A few laps of a spilled drink can make a cat very unwell.
Can cats eat beer and alcohol?The details
Watch for alcohol in less obvious places: raw yeast dough, rum-soaked cakes, hand sanitiser and some mouthwashes. Hops, used to brew beer, are separately toxic to dogs and can cause a dangerous fever.
Safer treats your dog can have instead
Apples
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Beef
Bell peppers
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Blackberries
- Dogs
- Safe
- Cats
- In moderation
Questions owners ask
Can dogs eat beer and alcohol?
No. Pets are much smaller than us and their liver handles alcohol poorly. Even a small amount can cause drunkenness, low blood sugar and breathing problems.
What makes beer and alcohol risky for dogs?
Ethanol.
What are the signs to watch for in dogs?
wobbliness and disorientation, vomiting, drowsiness, slow breathing, low body temperature.
What should I do if my dog ate beer and alcohol?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Tell them what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your pet’s weight. Do not try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to. Raw bread dough ferments into alcohol in the stomach, so treat it the same way.
Is beer and alcohol safe for cats too?
No. A few laps of a spilled drink can make a cat very unwell.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
