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Like most of you, I’ve always refrained from giving my dogs alcohol of any kind (beer or mixed drinks), knowing that alcohol poisoning in dogs is serious business.

But, you may not know that even ice from a mixed drink could seriously harm your dog.

I’ll be honest, this is the one that I hadn’t thought about… until now.

beer-for-dogs

The other day, while I was perusing videos found on the Internet, I came across a number of amateur home videos that some dog owners had posted online showing their dogs in a drunken state.

This is just wrong. (And you won’t see any of those videos here.)

But it does give me an opportunity to share what I’ve learned about dogs and alcohol.

Here’s what you need to know about dogs, alcohol, and ice cubes that have been in alcoholic drinks…

 

Is Alcohol Dangerous To Dogs Or Not?

A dog lapping up beer

For the record, alcohol always appears on the top of the list of “things that are toxic to pets”.

Alcohol can cause serious intoxication in pets, and many dogs are attracted to it. Every year hundreds of dogs die after a single bout of alcohol consumption. Clean up glasses after holiday parties. Dogs are often attracted by the sweet taste of drinks, especially eggnog. — Drs. Foster & Smith

If a dog ingests alcohol, it can potentially result in:

  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • lack of coordination
  • central nervous system depression
  • difficulty breathing
  • tremors
  • acidosis
  • coma
  • and even death.

Bottom line: Giving your dog the left-over beer is not funny – it can be hazardous. — Greg Robert Pet Supplies

 

What About “Drunk Ice” From Mixed Drinks?

To be truthful… we have given our dogs ice cubes from our mixed drinks for years.

And none of the dogs has ever experienced any ill-effects from what we call “drunk ice.”

They never once started acting goofy. Never ever got sick. Never even got sleepy or lazy. They just enjoyed their cool, icy treats — usually on a hot afternoon after a walk, and usually while lounging on our front porch. (The ice cubes were typically from our Wild Turkey bourbon & Diet Coke mixed drinks.)

dog playing with ice cubes

Our dogs’ breeds & sizes:

35 lb. American Eskimo
50 lb. Black Lab/Great Pyrenees puppy
70 lb. Black Lab/Golden Retriever

Yes, our dogs also love plain ‘ol (unflavored) ice. And we have given them regular ice cubes as a dog treat for ages. They eat it up!

Our dogs have always seemed to like “drunk ice” just as much as “regular” flavorless ice.

But then I read this: No Drinks For Dogs!

Needless to say, in the interest of being responsible dog owners, we have stopped giving our dogs “drunk ice.” Despite the fact that our dogs have never shown any ill effects from the ice, I figure why take the chance?

So, if you’ve given your dogs ice from alcoholic beverages before, I simply invite you to take a step back and think about it.

And… thanks for reading this. The more informed you are, the easier it will be for you to make a conscious decision that you (and your dogs!) can live with.

 

Safe Beer For Dogs

Please, do not give your dogs beer of any kind that’s made for humans!

There are only a handful of beers that you can serve to your canine friend.

There are only a few beers that are safe for dogs to drink. See which ones here!

3 Dog-Friendly Beers

#1 – Happy Tail Ale see how this beer for dogs got its start.

#2 – Bowser Beer see how this dog beer got its start.

#3 – Kwispelbier see how this beer for dogs got its start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFLGAeoMZs8

 

Must read:  The Dangers Of Cigarette Butts, E-Cigarettes, And Marijuana For Dogs

 

Funny Dog Beer Stuff

This “beer dog” has been trained to open a cooler, grab a beer, then hand it to a person.

A dog who retrieves a beer for their human.

This dog can also: 

  • open the refrigerator
  • grab a beer from the bottom shelf
  • and carry it to the person who requested a beer.

This video shows the dog in action:

Now, that’s one talented beer dog!

Just for fun… here’s the story behind some famous beers that put dogs on the label.