Dr Ariete Da Silva is a qualified veterinarian from the AACL in Epping. She’s teamed up with us to tell you everything you need to know about alcohol-related dangers for pets.
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Although alcohol toxicity in dogs and cats is rare, mostly because they are smart enough not to like the taste, the consequences of accidental exposure can be quite severe, and in the worst cases can result in death. This condition is more commonly seen in dogs.
Signs of alcohol poisoning
Symptoms of alcohol toxicity can be seen within 30-60 minutes of consumption and include nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, dehydration, appearing off balance or disorientated, tremors, depression or weakness, difficulty breathing and, in severe cases, pets may become comatose or unresponsive.
Alcohol irritates the stomach and intestinal tract directly. When it is ingested, it can result in nausea and vomiting. Vomiting while intoxicated is concerning because there is always a risk that vomitus can be accidentally inhaled and can result in a lung infection. Alcohol is also a potent central nervous system depressant. It decreases essential life sustaining activities in the brain and spinal cord.
Other household products that can lead to alcohol intoxication
All common alcoholic beverages are considered potentially toxic to your pets. However, there are a few standard household products that may also result in alcohol intoxication. These include: mouthwash, perfume, aftershave or cologne, hand sanitisers, certain cleaning agents, certain liquid medications and even rotting or fermenting fruits. Raw bread and pizza dough can also result in toxicity when consumed. In these cases, you can often see a bloated abdomen or pets becoming very sensitive to touch around the abdomen. This is because excessive alcohol and gas are produced simultaneously as the dough is fermenting in the stomach.
What to do in a case of emergency
Management of alcohol intoxication consists mostly of supportive and symptomatic treatment. This includes intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and help the kidneys dispose of toxic products faster, medication for nausea, vomiting, tremors, seizures and breathing. If detected early enough (within the first 15-30 minutes) emesis (vomiting) can be induced to expel the ingested alcohol. In the case of dough ingestion, your pet’s stomach may need to be flushed to remove the dough and wash out the alcohol that has been produced.
If you are concerned your pet may have ingested any alcohol-containing products you should seek the assistance of your veterinarian as soon as possible. In emergency cases, if you can’t reach your veterinarian, make sure you call a emergency after-hours veterinary clinic for advice on how to induce emesis in your pet at home. Do not attempt to induce emesis in a dog that is already vomiting, weak, seizing, or unable to lift its head, stand, or swallow normally. Even if you have effectively induced vomiting and your pet does not show any or mild symptoms, you should still seek veterinary attention to err on the side of caution.
Make sure you store all alcoholic beverages, household cosmetic and cleaning products containing alcohol in a place where your pets will not be able to access them. Do not leave bread dough out to rise where they can reach it and ensure you dispose of rotting or fermenting fruits appropriately. Always keep a close eye on your pets when entertaining guests or keep them in a separate area.
In most cases chances of recovery are good, depending on what complications have occurred during the time of intoxication. Recovery can take anywhere from 12-24 hours if no concurrent problems are detected.
