Many tutors are faced with the accidental consumption of alcoholic beverages by dogs. Can dogs drink alcoholic beverages? Is alcohol toxic to dogs? What should be done when the dog drinks alcohol? To answer these questions, this post will talk about the consumption of alcoholic beverages by dogs and why this practice should be avoided.
What to do if your dog drinks alcohol
First, alcoholic beverages are drinks that dogs should avoid. The alcohol in these drinks can lead to health problems in dogs and can result in severe food poisoning that can result in neurological changes followed by vomiting and diarrhea.
What should be done if the dog has ingested alcoholic beverages? Dogs when ingesting alcohol may present some reactions after a few minutes. The ideal is to keep the animal under observation and therefore it is recommended to take the animal to the veterinarian. At the clinic, the animal may receive fluid therapy and stabilization of the symptoms presented.
Alcohol for dogs
In general, dogs end up taking various objects and food to their mouths and the same can happen with alcoholic beverages. The accidental ingestion of this type of food can cause a lot of damage to the dog’s health when not properly treated by a veterinarian.
Another possibility is for the owner to offer alcohol to his dog. Due to the harm of alcohol to dogs, tutors should not offer this type of food to their animals. In some countries, offering alcoholic beverages to animals is considered a crime of animal abuse. So be careful with the types of food to be offered to your dogs.
What foods can dogs eat
Various foods used in the human diet can be offered to dogs as snacks and even as whole foods. However, before providing any food to the dogs, the veterinarian must be consulted to avoid the imbalance of the diet that can generate several other health problems for the dogs.
List of foods that can be consumed by dogs:
- Vegetables
- Meat
- Fruits
- Natural Juices
- Water
Since dogs cannot ingest alcohol, there are products on the market without alcohol for consumption by dogs, such as specific beers for dogs.
Specific beers for dogs must be supplied to the animal in the amount indicated by the manufacturer of each drink, always following the dog’s weight to avoid excessive drinking for the dog.
The specific beer for dogs is a type of liquid snack that is totally attractive to dogs due to the meat flavor that is very palatable to dogs.
In general, these dog beers are not fermented foods, and their basic composition is water and malt, and some can be supplemented with nutrients and vitamins such as the B complex.
Some benefits of dog beer:
- Alternative to hydration in dogs;
- It can reduce kidney problems;
- Nutrient and vitamin supplement.
As a liquid snack, rich in water, it can be an alternative for a dog’s hydration. It is important that the dogs are healthy and consume the adequate volume recommended for their weight.
Because it is diuretic and rich in nutrients, it can prevent the appearance of kidney disease in dogs. However, you should consult a veterinarian for the use of this type of treat. And you should never substitute dog food for dog beer.
Dog beer can be a nutrient-rich snack option, containing vitamin B complex, mineral salts and amino acids. It should be given to the animal sparingly.
This type of food should be avoided for allergic dogs, or those with kidney and gastrointestinal tract diseases. It is also not recommended for the consumption of dog beer by puppies.
Conclusion
Dogs can feed on various human foods, but alcohol should be avoided due to the amount of health problems this type of food can bring to dogs. When observing that the dog drank any type of product with alcohol, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately, and this is the only way to stabilize and prevent this animal from presenting any other symptoms and even aggravation of the health condition that can result in death. There are possibilities for non-alcoholic food that can be offered to dogs, such as dog beer. But before encouraging the consumption of this type of food by dogs, a veterinary nutritionist should be consulted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What to do if your dog drinks alcohol?
Is it a crime to give alcohol to an animal?
In some countries giving alcohol to dogs can be considered Animal Abuse. It could be an environmental crime.
What foods are toxic for dogs?
Common foods that are highly toxic to dogs are:
- Grapes and Raisins;
- Xylitol;
- Chocolate;
- Tea;
- Coffee;
- Onions;
- Garlic;
- Alcohol.
What to do if the dog drank beer?
Take the animal to the vet so that it can be observed, and the appropriate medications are taken to avoid major reactions.
Reference
Alegría Díaz, C. M., Arrieta Zavaleta, S. E., Porras Ore, J., Torres Durand, C. R., & Tumbalobos Huapaya, E. T. Cool Dog: Bebida nutricional para perros.
Picture from Flickr.com
