Furtastic Series Banner

Please do not give your pets alcohol these holidays, or like ever

Just a gentle reminder not to be THAT guy.
 By 
Johnny Lieu
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Not sure why, but there's always someone out there who thinks it'll be really funny to give an animal a sip of their beer.

Well no surprises, but it's a really dumb idea.

In Australia, veterinarians come across higher rates of alcohol toxicity in animals during the holiday season, either thanks to idiots or because pets accidentally become exposed to small amounts of alcohol laying around.

Just a week after some jerks fed a native quokka UDL vodka from a can, the Australian Veterinarian Association (AVA) has condemned the all-too-common holiday past time of letting animals try your alcohol

"They can also get exposure by drinking or licking up cooking products that contain alcohol, mouthwashes, perfume, cleaning products or by getting into cough syrups ... or other medications," the AVA's Dr David Neck said in an emailed statement.

"Keep cats and dogs in a safe place when entertaining. Glasses left lying around will offer an easy opportunity for a curious pet to get their nose into the glass and have a taste."

Via Giphy

Signs of alcohol poisoning in animals include having trouble walking or standing, lack of coordination, drowsiness, a slow breathing rate, excessive urination, or unresponsiveness.

Dogs and cats exposed to alcohol can have dramatic drops in their blood sugar level, which could also lead to seizures.

So please, don't be silly this silly season. Just let your dog fetch you the beer instead of drinking it.

Via Giphy

Topics Animals

Mashable Image
Johnny Lieu

Mashable Australia's Web Culture Reporter.Reach out to me on Twitter at @Johnny_Lieu or via email at jlieu [at] mashable.com

Mashable Potato

More from Furtastic


Dog really into leather craftsmanship right now
Dog really into leather craftsmanship right now



Recommended For You
Jimmy Kimmel gives a 13-minute recap of everything Trump did over the holidays
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage in front of a wall displaying hundreds of Truth Social posts.


'SNL UK' roasts Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during first ever Weekend Update
A woman sits behind a news desk. In the top left is an image of a house with the headline, "Andrew Moves".

Doomsday Clock now closest to midnight ever
A photograph of the Doomsday Clock, stating "It is 85 seconds to midnight."

Keep track of your luggage and pets for just $16 a tag
Four Apple AirTags against a blue and purple background.

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!