Alcohol, Dogs & 'Drunk Ice' Don't Mix

When perusing videos found on the Internet the other day for our new Best Dog Video Gallery, 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 at this site.)

But it does give me an opportunity to share a little something about dogs and alcohol...

Is Alcohol Dangerous To Dogs Or Not?

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

Alcohol can cause serious intoxications 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. -- Dog Hazards

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. They never ever got sick. They 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.)

Our dogs' breeds & sizes:

You see, our dogs LOVE plain 'ol ice. And we have given them non-flavored ice cubes as a dog treat for years. Trust me, when I say... they eat it up!

Of course, they seem to like "drunk ice" just as much as 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, we 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.

Beer For Dogs

Now, for a little comic relief on this very serious subject:

A Reason To NEVER Give Beer To Your Dog!

Dog Fetches Beers From Cooler & Refrigerator

There's only ONE beer you can serve to your canine friend: Happy Tail Ale (...it's even been endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger). Here's how this dog-friendly beer got its start.

And while we're in the partying mode... here's a word about pets and cigarettes:

Tobacco products can be fatal to pets, if ingested. Signs of poisoning develop within 15 to 45 minutes and include excitation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pets may develop seizures, collapse and die from cardiac arrest. Keep cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine gum and patches, and ashtrays out of the reach of pets. Empty ashtrays frequently since cigarette butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine in a cigarette. -- Drs. Foster & Smith

RELATED:

Protect Your Pet From Common Household Poisons

Beer And Man's Best Friend

Video Of Dogs Drinking Pet-Friendly Beer

Beer Dogs and Party Animals

Another Doggie Beer: Kwispelbier

Funny Video: Dog Fetches Beers From Cooler & Refrigerator