Yesterday I was called upon to settle an argument via text message.  A friend of mine apparently has a young coworker who thought it appropriate to give beer to his puppy.  After I texted, “absolutely not,” the coworker apparently argued that it was o.k. because he “watered it down.”   And people wonder why animal shelters don’t adopt pets to college students.  

For the facts, I turned to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on the web.  Alcoholic beverages can cause the following symptoms in dogs:  vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system (CNS) depression, tremors, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), or panting, respiratory failure, acidosis, coma, or death. 

Under a section on “Ethanol (Also Known as Ethyl Alcohol, Grain Alcohol or Drinking Alcohol),” the following explanation appears:  “Dogs are far more sensitive to ethanol than humans are.  Even ingesting a small amount of a product containing alcohol can cause significant intoxication.  Dogs may be exposed to alcohol through drinking alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine or mixed drinks (those with milk, like White Russians and “fortified” egg nog, are especially appealing to dogs), alcohol-containing elixirs and syrups, and raw yeast bread dough.  Alcohol intoxication commonly causes vomiting, loss of coordination, disorientation and stupor. In severe cases, coma, seizures and death may occur.  Dogs showing mild signs of alcohol intoxication should be closely monitored, and dogs who are so inebriated that they can’t stand up should be monitored by a veterinarian until they recover.”

Since students have returned to the UI campus, I have seen quite a few out walking dogs, as I drive across town.  I’m sure that many college students are mature enough to be great pet owners and love their pets dearly.  I hope that they also realize that they need to protect their pets from fellow students who may inadvertently feed them toxic foods, or worse, find the notion of making an animal “drunk” amusing.  It’s not funny, it’s dangerous. 

And seriously, if there is a species on the planet that doesn’t need to get into an altered state to feel euphoric, wouldn’t it be the dog?  I’ve seen dogs go over the top for a rawhide, a squeaky toy, a ball, a walk or a belly rub.  If only humans could be so easily elated.

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