Red: toxic
No, dogs must not drink alcohol, not even a sip of beer. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center warns against alcoholic drinks and foods containing alcohol because they can lead to coma and death.
Why alcohol is so dangerous
According to the ASPCA, alcohol enters the bloodstream very quickly. The Pet Poison Helpline, an American animal poison service, explains that it can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Dogs are smaller than us and can tolerate far less. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, signs usually begin 30 to 60 minutes after drinking: vomiting, diarrhoea, staggering, disorientation, weakness, trembling and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can lead to hypothermia, seizures, a slow heartbeat and coma.
Where alcohol can be hidden
- Glasses on the table: Beer, wine, sparkling wine and cocktails, especially at parties and on New Year’s Eve.
- Sweet treats: Liqueur chocolates and desserts containing alcohol.
- Raw yeast dough: According to the ASPCA, yeast produces alcohol in the stomach, and the dough can cause the stomach to swell.
- Around the home: The MSD Veterinary Manual also lists some hand sanitisers and rubbing alcohol.
What if your dog has drunk alcohol?
Do not wait to see whether your dog is “just tipsy”. Call your vet or an emergency veterinary service immediately. Be ready to explain what your dog drank or ate, roughly how much, when it happened and how much your dog weighs. Take the bottle or packaging with you. Because alcohol is absorbed so quickly, the MSD Veterinary Manual says there is only a short window for treatment. Do not induce vomiting yourself or give home remedies.
If you suspect poisoning, take your dog to a vet or an emergency veterinary service immediately.
Snacks count towards the daily food allowance. Our free food calculator works out how much your dog needs, and you can find a complete feeding plan with guidelines for treats in our book “Hundeernährung und Futterplan” (book in German). New to life with a puppy? Our free Puppy Starter Pack can help. And if you would love to see your dog on your living room wall, explore our dog portraits from your own photo, available as a framed portrait or digital file.
Further reading
- New Year’s Eve anxiety in dogs: what really helps and what only sounds reassuring
- Christmas with your dog: what to arrange beforehand
- Puppy checklist: essentials and the first 3 days
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (Alcohol and Yeast Dough); MSD Veterinary Manual, Toxicoses From Alcohols in Animals; Pet Poison Helpline, Alcohol and I Caught My Dog Drinking Alcohol. What Can Happen?
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
