What happens if your dog accidentally drinks wine?

You’re unwinding by your poolside, enjoying a glass of good, old wine. You step away for a moment to answer a phone call. But when you get back, you realize that your dog has helped himself to the rest of your wine.

As a caring and responsible pet parent, you will wonder what will happen to the dog. Will he get intoxicated, and what’s the worst that could happen if he does? Are there other side effects associated with wine for dogs? This article will attempt to shed more light on what could go wrong if you let your dog drink wine.

Are dogs attracted to wine?

Before finding out what could happen if you let your dog drink wine, it’s essential to establish whether dogs love wine. Now, dogs are curious animals. Maybe not as curious as their feline counterparts, but interested enough to check out anything in the house that looks too attractive or doesn’t belong. Unfortunately, that curiosity might also lead them to venture into places they shouldn’t be, such as in your wine cellar.

Dogs also tend to imitate their owners a lot. It’s not unusual for your dog to develop an interest in wine merely because he’s observed you enjoying the drink for some time. The color and shape of your wine glasses might also explain your dog’s love affair with wine. Most wine lovers prefer enjoying their drink in decorative glass bottles, which is great, as these bottles add a glamorous touch to any wine-drinking session. However, enjoying wine from an overly decorated glass also could pique your dog’s interest in the drink.

Dogs are generally attracted to blue and yellow colors. This explains why most dog toys come in these colors. In terms of shape, dogs tend to be attracted to anything resembling bone. So, if your wine glass happens to be blue or yellow and is slender-shaped, your pup could associate it with a toy or bone. While checking it out, the animal could end up licking the wine inside the glass.

But will a dog love the smell and taste of wine? The good news is that most dogs find the taste of wine repulsive. That’s because dogs aren’t attracted to grapes, the main ingredient in wine. Unless motivated by other factors, your puppy might only swallow a few pints before losing interest in the drink. But as you shall find, those few pints are what it takes to trigger a medical emergency.

What happens if your dog drinks wine?

Wine is made from grapes, which are highly toxic to most dogs. Grapes have been known to cause kidney failure in dogs. So, feeding any grape-based foods to dogs is a terrible idea. Presently, limited studies suggest that wine is just as toxic to dogs as grapes are. It would also help to keep wine as far away from your puppy as possible.

But even if your dog doesn’t develop kidney toxicity from drinking wine, many things could go wrong. According to veterinary officers, dogs have smaller bodies than humans, making them less effective at processing alcohol. Therefore, consuming wine could result in alcohol/ethanol toxicity. Alcohol toxicity primarily manifests itself in gastrointestinal issues. The condition produces symptoms like nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, diarrhea (which leads to dehydration), and abdominal pain.

Also, the mere fact that a dog’s digestive system isn’t used to alcohol is worth considering. Exposure to alcoholic drinks like wine might induce a series of allergic reactions, including gastrointestinal distress, respiratory problems like sneezing, and skin irritation.

Can dogs get intoxicated by wine?

Yes, they can. Wine affects a dog’s brain the same way it affects a human’s. And just like humans, the signature signs of wine intoxication in dogs include incoordination and lethargy. Some dogs can be overly vocal and begin barking or growling without apparent cause.

Most importantly, it’s worth noting that dogs don’t know when they’re intoxicated. However, the spatial disorientation that alcohol causes might make them panic and feel insecure. This could lead to escapist behavior, increased aggression, and self-inflicted injuries.

Can wine kill your dog?

Although death may not occur instantly, the side effects associated with alcohol toxicity could lead to your dog’s eventual demise. And how soon death comes depends on how much wine your pooch has helped himself to. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the official lethal oral dose for alcohol in dogs is between 5.5 and 7.9 grams of 100% alcohol.

But as you shall find, this lethal dose depends on your dog’s age, size, and overall immunity. Puppies, smaller dog breeds, and sick dogs are more likely to develop severe complications of alcohol toxicity, even with smaller doses.

So, don’t let your dog drink wine to keep your pup safe.

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