Pet ownership brings its own set of responsibilities. Perhaps the most regular diligence is to be maintained in ensuring that Rover does not consume stuff not meant for his species. It’s a regular chore and certain “best practices” have to be carried out routinely. It can make life easier for both the pet and the pet parent.
The problem is that dogs don’t know what’s bad for them and in some cases even we are ignorant about the potentially harmful food items. One such item is alcohol; it’s bad for dogs but dogs are known to lap it up. Alcohol poisoning is a serious problem and dogs, particularly the smaller breeds; don’t need to consume a lot of alcohol to experience symptoms.
Dogs may or may not have an instinct to avoid alcohol. The problem arises with food items that may contain alcohol such as egg nogs, rum cakes, meat dishes with wine gravy, etc. Consider this, even grapes and raisins can prove deadly to dogs; so it must follow that wine made from grapes can be a potentially lethal drink too. Many liqueurs and cocktails appear appetizing and palatable; they contain alcohol but the taste can be masked; but it does not in anyway reduce the potency of such drinks. Moreover such drinks can contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, which can make the animal seriously ill. So, it’s a double whammy for the dog. Similarly feeding the animal sweet chocolate made with alcohol is exposing the animal to serious trouble.
Not only liquor, sometimes even medicines containing ethanol can pose a risk to pet dogs. Even something ostensibly harmless like dough can cause problems if it is fermented. So if it’s yeast you’re working with in the kitchen, keep the pet dog away.
Factors that influence the rate at which alcohol is absorbed by the dog’s body include its size and weight; dog’s health; and whether the dog has had food or was on an empty stomach. Source of alcohol or type of drink is a factor too. Beer is mildly alcoholic whereas hard liquors like whisky and vodka contain enough alcohol to do serious damage.
Don’t keep glasses lying around and clean scraps off food from the dining table and the floor. If you notice your dog displaying lethargy and its breathing is labored, it could be an alcohol overdose. These symptoms are common to other conditions as well. You could try smelling for alcohol in the dog’s breath. If vet care is not provided early enough, an alcohol overdose can cause the animal to slip into coma and suffer from respiratory arrest. Vet treatment involves giving the dog activated charcoal tablets, putting it on a ventilator, and giving it IV fluids to counter dehydration.
