Alcohol Toxicity in Pets

By: Lorelei Prichard DVM
About the author

Many of us enjoy a sip of wine after dinner or a cold beer with our pizza. We also realize that consumption of large amounts of alcoholic beverages leads to drunkenness and intoxication. What many folks don’t realize is that cats and dogs, like us, can get more than drunk when they consume – they can get a trip to the emergency room!

Ethanol is the active ingredient in our alcoholic drinks, and it is rapidly absorbed after ingestion. As in humans, the effect and toxicity of the beverage to your pet depends upon many factors. The most important of these is the weight of the animal and the amount consumed. The smaller and thinner the pet, the quicker his body absorbs the alcohol.

Drinking on an empty stomach increases the rapidity of absorption. In fact, up to 20 percent of alcohol is absorbed directly from the stomach and can reach the brain in less than a minute. An animal’s overall health also directly effects alcohol’s toxicity and those with heart disease or diabetes and pets on NSAID’s for arthritis will be more vulnerable. Most of the alcohol is processed by the liver, therefore puppies and kittens will be at greater risk as their livers are not yet mature.

Ethanol, the toxic ingredient in alcoholic drinks, varies by beverage. Beer typically contains 3% to 7% ethanol, wine may have 9% to 12%, and whisky often contains 40% to 90%. The alcohol concentration of a drink is denoted by the “proof” listed on the container. The proof is equal to twice the percentage concentration (i.e. 80 proof is 40 percent alcohol).

The lethal dose of ethanol for dogs has been calculated to be approximately 5.5 grams of ethanol per kilogram of your pet’s body weight. That means the lethal dose of ethanol for a 10 pound dog would be approximately 25 grams. A 12 oz can of beer, one 4 oz glass of wine, and a single 1.25 oz “shot” of whiskey all contain approximately 14 grams of ethanol.

Within thirty minutes of drinking alcohol on an empty stomach (or within 1-2 hours on a full stomach), the signs of alcohol toxicity will become obvious. The critical signs of alcohol poisoning include central nervous symptoms (staggering, seizures, or excitement), behavioral changes (mental confusion), and an increased need to urinate. As the toxicity increases, your pet may experience slow or irregular breathing, suffer from hypothermia (extremely low body temperature), and slip into a coma or go into cardiac arrest.

Beverages are not the only concern when our pets are involved. Alcohol toxicity is more common in dogs than cats as dogs are more likely to steal food or drink when their owners are not looking. Accidental alcohol poisoning can occur when fermented products such as bread dough are ingested. The warm, moist environment of the stomach provides an efficient incubator for the reproduction of yeast within the ingested dough. As the dough expands within the stomach, yeast produces ethanol which is absorbed into the bloodstream. The ever-expanding dough ball within the stomach can also compromise the vessels that supply the stomach lining.

To diagnose alcohol poisoning, your veterinarian will need a complete history and run several blood tests to determine the health and immediate status of your pet’s organs. Emergency treatment is necessary for pets already exhibiting symptoms of drunkenness, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and dehydration. If the animal is going to recover from alcohol poisoning, recovery is often seen within 8-12 hours.

If you suspect alcohol poisoning in your pet or have witnessed your pet ingesting an alcoholic substance, contact your veterinarian at once.

Copyright © 2009 Lorelei Prichard DVM