Excessive Thirst

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Upset Stomach

Many people love a cold (and maybe even green) beer on St. Patrick’s Day, but alcohol is not meant for pets. The tiniest amount can be toxic because their livers can’t handle it. Drooling, vomiting or retching, diarrhea, weakness, incoordination, and trouble breathing are signs of alcohol ingestion. But just because you have pets doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a beer. 

 

Is Alcohol Worse for Pets Than Beer or Wine?

Light beers are the least dangerous since their alcohol content is less, followed by craft beers, wine, hard liquors, and finally, grain alcohols like Everclear.

Although wine does have grapes in it, which can be extremely dangerous to dogs, there’s no research showing that wine is more dangerous to dogs than other types of alcohol.

Beware of Mixed Drinks or Alcohol-Based Food

Although an animal won’t be likely to take more than one sip of a glass of wine or a scotch on the rocks, certain mixed drinks or alcohol-based cakes could be sweet enough or have ingredients that appeal to animals.

And sometimes these other ingredients (chocolate, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts, for example) are dangerous in and of themselves.

You should also be on the lookout for hidden sources of alcohol, like certain flavorings, including vanilla and almond, and for spices that might contain essential oils, like cinnamon. 

And since ethanol is what’s truly dangerous to animals, also be on the lookout for pets getting into cleaning products, mouthwash or hand sanitizer, some of which have ethanol in them.

Signs of Alcohol Toxicity in Dogs and Cats

In severe cases, you may see: