My dog ate alcohol – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Signs can start rapidly and may include lethargy, difficulty walking (ataxia), and vomiting.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet
  2. Note what was eaten, how much, and when
  3. Bring the packaging
  4. Remove what is left
  5. Keep your dog calm

Don't

  • Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to
  • Do not give any human medicine

Why it can be dangerous

Alcoholic drinks and food products containing alcohol are listed as exposure sources.[1] Pets can ingest drinking alcohol through licks of mixed drinks, beer, or wine, or by consuming candies with liquor centers or raw bread dough made with yeast.[2]

Signs to watch for

  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Difficulty walking (ataxia)

Signs can start rapidly, including lethargy, difficulty walking (ataxia), and vomiting.

Where it is found

  • Mixed drinks
  • Beer
  • Liquor
  • Unbaked bread dough
  • Wine
  • Spirits
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much alcohol is dangerous?

The provided facts do not state a dangerous amount; they describe alcoholic drinks and food products containing alcohol as exposure sources.[1][2]

How soon can signs start?

Clinical signs of alcohol intoxication can have a rapid onset.[2]

Where can alcohol exposure come from?

Exposure can come from mixed drinks, beer, wine, candies with liquor centers, or raw bread dough made with yeast.[2]

Sources

  1. US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine
  2. Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

The same page for cats →

Other things dogs eat

AmbienAntibioticsAnticoagulant rodenticidesAntihistaminesAspirinAsthma InhalerBaclofenBatteriesBenzodiazepinesBeta-blockersBlack Widow SpiderBones (turkey, chicken, steak)