Alcohol and Pets: A Deadly Cocktail
- By Michael Goldberg
- Published 04/22/2010
- Pets
- Unrated
The Effect of Alcohol on Pets
When I was a younger, and one might argue a stupider pet owner, I was at a friendly backyard gathering and had brought my dog. It was a burgers and beer bash, a nice neighborhood get-together. Because I had had a couple myself, I laughed at first when one of my friends gave my dog a bit of beer, but was forever after wishing he hadn’t done that. Luckily I put a stop to it before she got a real snootful, and it was a good thing I did, since when I asked the vet about it the next day he told me that alcohol was definitely harmful to dogs and cats. It’s a good thing I asked, since it seemed my dog had acquired a love for the stuff, and the next bash I took her to I caught her tipping over people’s beer bottles so she could have a sip or ten. That was the last party for her!
As little as three ounces of liquor in a 10-15 pound animal is enough to depress your pet’s nervous system and stop its breathing. And though most pets will turn up their nose at most forms of alcohol, if it’s the holidays and the smell of the liquor is hidden behind the milk and eggs in eggnog, that could be a formula for disaster.
Cats cannot process alcohol at all, and one tablespoon of undiluted whiskey is enough to kill the average sized cat.
There are other issues besides the alcohol itself. Grapes are toxic to dogs, so wine is doubly dangerous, and the smaller the dog, the quicker the level of toxicity will be reached. Artificial sweetener of any kind, and especially xylitol which is a form of alcohol, is also toxic to dogs and cats, Artificial sweeteners are an ingredient in many mixed drink mixers and wine coolers.
The problem isn’t necessarily one of intentionally feeding an animal one of these drinks, but of it being available to them when backs are turned, as people at parties leave these beverages in places where animals can easily stick their noses into the glass or easily knock over a bottle.
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in a dog are, unfortunately, similar to those of a bunch of other common doggie ailments, though smelling their breath is one tipoff that their symptoms may be alcohol related. Acting sluggish and vague, and vomiting are two of the symptoms. Sometimes your pet will act either exceptionally lethargic or highly energized. If your pet has ingested a toxic amount, their breathing will slow, or possibly arrest completely, or they could lapse into a coma, or their heart could stop. In cats the symptoms are similar to a dog’s, but you might also see excessive urination or incontinence. Get your pet to the vet immediately. The vet will most likely administer activated charcoal to absorb the alcohol, and hydrate your pet intravenously with electrolytes, dextrose and sodium bicarbonate. If there is reduced respiratory function your pet will be put on a ventilator until they can breathe on their own again.
One thing many people don’t know is that there is a form of alcohol that makes up the antifreeze you use in your car, and it’s a highly concentrated form that is very toxic to pets. Keep pets away from antifreeze and antifreeze spills, and make sure to clean them up thoroughly.
Prevention is thousands of times better than having to treat this problem, and it is totally preventable. Keep your pet safe and keep alcoholic drinks out of reach of your pets!
When I was a younger, and one might argue a stupider pet owner, I was at a friendly backyard gathering and had brought my dog. It was a burgers and beer bash, a nice neighborhood get-together. Because I had had a couple myself, I laughed at first when one of my friends gave my dog a bit of beer, but was forever after wishing he hadn’t done that. Luckily I put a stop to it before she got a real snootful, and it was a good thing I did, since when I asked the vet about it the next day he told me that alcohol was definitely harmful to dogs and cats. It’s a good thing I asked, since it seemed my dog had acquired a love for the stuff, and the next bash I took her to I caught her tipping over people’s beer bottles so she could have a sip or ten. That was the last party for her!
As little as three ounces of liquor in a 10-15 pound animal is enough to depress your pet’s nervous system and stop its breathing. And though most pets will turn up their nose at most forms of alcohol, if it’s the holidays and the smell of the liquor is hidden behind the milk and eggs in eggnog, that could be a formula for disaster.
Cats cannot process alcohol at all, and one tablespoon of undiluted whiskey is enough to kill the average sized cat.
There are other issues besides the alcohol itself. Grapes are toxic to dogs, so wine is doubly dangerous, and the smaller the dog, the quicker the level of toxicity will be reached. Artificial sweetener of any kind, and especially xylitol which is a form of alcohol, is also toxic to dogs and cats, Artificial sweeteners are an ingredient in many mixed drink mixers and wine coolers.
The problem isn’t necessarily one of intentionally feeding an animal one of these drinks, but of it being available to them when backs are turned, as people at parties leave these beverages in places where animals can easily stick their noses into the glass or easily knock over a bottle.
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in a dog are, unfortunately, similar to those of a bunch of other common doggie ailments, though smelling their breath is one tipoff that their symptoms may be alcohol related. Acting sluggish and vague, and vomiting are two of the symptoms. Sometimes your pet will act either exceptionally lethargic or highly energized. If your pet has ingested a toxic amount, their breathing will slow, or possibly arrest completely, or they could lapse into a coma, or their heart could stop. In cats the symptoms are similar to a dog’s, but you might also see excessive urination or incontinence. Get your pet to the vet immediately. The vet will most likely administer activated charcoal to absorb the alcohol, and hydrate your pet intravenously with electrolytes, dextrose and sodium bicarbonate. If there is reduced respiratory function your pet will be put on a ventilator until they can breathe on their own again.
One thing many people don’t know is that there is a form of alcohol that makes up the antifreeze you use in your car, and it’s a highly concentrated form that is very toxic to pets. Keep pets away from antifreeze and antifreeze spills, and make sure to clean them up thoroughly.
Prevention is thousands of times better than having to treat this problem, and it is totally preventable. Keep your pet safe and keep alcoholic drinks out of reach of your pets!
Michael Goldberg
Michael Goldberg is a regular contributor to Pet-Super-Store.com. Go check out his site for cool large dog beds!
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