Can dogs and cats eat Alcohol?
Alcohol affects pets much more strongly than people because of their small size. It can lower blood sugar, body temperature and blood pressure.
Why
Ethanol
Signs to watch for
- vomiting
- wobbliness, disorientation
- drowsiness
- slow breathing
- low body temperature
- collapse
- seizures
Good to know
Includes alcoholic drinks, rum-soaked cakes, liqueur chocolates, hand sanitiser and fermenting fruit. Small pets can be seriously affected by small amounts.
If you think your pet has been poisoned
If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten or touched something poisonous, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately, even if your pet seems fine – some poisons take hours or days to show signs, and early treatment works best. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, as this can cause more harm. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you, and note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
Sources
Sources
- ASPCA – People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Pet Poison Helpline – Kitchen toxins to pets
- Blue Cross – Poisonous foods for dogs
Checked against these sources in October 2026.