You wake up one morning to see that the half-full glass of wine you accidentally left out the night before is now empty, and no one is at home except for you and your pup — it's clear that your dog is the likely culprit that drank the alcohol. Questions race through your mind: Is your dog intoxicated? Does he have alcohol poisoning? Do you need to bring him to the veterinarian?
Hopefully, you'll never be in this situation, but knowing the risks involved and the steps to take if your dog were to ever sneak a sip can help keep your pup safe.
Just like chocolate and onions, alcohol is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of alcohol — not only in drinks but also in syrups and raw bread dough — can have ingredients that are poisonous for them. Both ethanol (the intoxicating agent in beer, wine and liquor) and hops (used to brew beer) can cause dogs alcohol intoxication. Signs of intoxication can include:
In severe cases, or if left untreated, alcohol intoxication in dogs can cause failure of the organ systems and even death.
While it might seem harmless to let your dog take the tiniest sip of your wine, beer or mixed drink, the bottom line is that it's never OK to let your dog drink alcohol. It's never acceptable to put his health at risk, no matter how amusing it may seem at the moment. As a pet parent, it's your responsibility to keep your pooch safe, and that includes keeping him away from alcohol.
If despite your best precautions, your dog somehow drinks alcohol, the first thing you should do is alert your vet and get recommendations on how to proceed. Depending on the alcohol content and the amount they consumed, some vets might ask you to take your dog in for a checkup immediately; others may suggest waiting it out to see if your dog has a reaction before coming in.
Usually, if your dog drinks more than one small sip of alcohol — or, if you don't know how much he drank — it's best to bring him to the vet right away. If the vet's office is closed, you should head to an emergency veterinarian center. A dog with alcohol poisoning needs to be treated immediately. You'll want to call your vet or the emergency clinic on your way there to let them know that your dog accidentally drank alcohol; that way, a vet can be ready for you as soon as you arrive.
Here are some basic tips to prevent your dog from consuming alcohol in the future.
Now that you know what happens when a dog drinks alcohol, do all you can to keep your pooch away from liquor at all times. No matter how curious Fido gets, it's never OK to share! If an accident does happen, though, now you'll know what to do.
Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
Chicken & barley entree with great taste and precisely balanced nutrition to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Supports healthy joints, immune system, digestion, lean muscle & beautiful coat
Supports energy & beautiful coat. Helps keep immune system, joints, heart & kidneys healthy
Supports healthy immune system, digestion, lean muscle & beautiful coat
Supports digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous coat
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Supports healthy immune system, digestion, lean muscle & beautiful coat
Fewer calories for less active large breed dogs
Low calories & L-Carnitine help promote ideal body weight, support healthy mobility & maintain heart function
Supports energy & beautiful coat. Helps keep immune system, joints, heart & kidneys healthy
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
This weight management and mobility support dog food was created with Hill’s unique understanding of the biology of overweight dogs.
Supports energy level & luxurious coat in Small & Mini dogs. Helps keep immune system, heart & kidneys healthy.
Improves Everyday Ability to Get Up & Go
Gentle on stomachs while nourishing skin & supporting development in growing puppies
Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Supports healthy brain, eye, muscle, bone & immune system development in growing puppies
Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
A delicious complement to the nutrition of Science Diet dry dog food
Get ready to discover fun activities you can have with your new puppy outdoors while learning how to keep him safe and happy.
Discover why dog nipping is such a common behavior, even among the best behaved pups, as well as how to get your puppy to stop nipping.
Discover how common dental disease is in dogs and what you can do to help prevent it happening to your dog.
Determine the human year equivalent of your large or giant breed dog as their size plays a much larger role in their aging than smaller dogs.
If you have a garden, find out how you can protect your dog from potential hazards such as plants, garden tools, and water features.
Velcro Dogs: Managing Your Dog's Clinginess
Hookworms in dogs are intestinal parasites that get their name from the hook-like mouthparts they use to attach to the intestinal wall. Learn more here.
Wondering what's the best time of year to adopt a dog? Learn how to choose the right season to welcome a new furry friend into your home.
Discover tips for enjoying a bike ride with your dog: How to decide if your dog is a good fit, planning the first ride, items to bring along & safety tips.
Watermelon is usually a healthy treat for dogs, but learn the tips about its safety, which parts are OK to feed your dog, and how much is a healthy amount.
Learn everything you need to know about dog goggles, including when your dog might need them, the difference between goggles and sunglasses, and more.
Get helpful tips on how to keep your puppy healthy, including oral and ear care, puppy stress prevention, and more.
Learn how to clean dog paws so you can keep them clear of muck and debris and promote paw health. Your pup's paws are made to explore.
Words may be important for humans to communicate, but canines communicate by dog body language and sounds. Learn how to figure out your pup's signals.
Learn how to treat your dog without compromising its health. Get tips on how to spoil your pup without too much snacking on dog treats.
Learn how dogs can benefit from yoga's mindful breathing, physical touch and guided movements, and how to get your dog involved in your yoga routine.
Learn common reasons why dogs like to jump on you, interesting facts about breeds that jump the most & highest, and how to stop their jumping behavior.
Obesity can cause serious canine health issues, but following these 4 steps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight for your adult dog can help.
Learn important considerations for choosing the right leash, collar or harness for your dog, including factors like their breed, size, age & energy level.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
©2025 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U.S. only; registration status in other geographies may be different. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool