DUI: Dogs under the Influence?

Including your pets fully in your holiday celebrations has its limits. In fact, we can all take a big lesson from the dangers of DUI (dogs under the influence) in our own habits and cut back on drinking. If for no other reason, to keep our pets safe from the dangers of alcohol.

There are two common causes of DUI, both of which are equally preventable:

• Thinking a drunk pet is cute. We’ve seen the videos online, and well before the Internet was a factor, it wasn’t uncommon for pet owners to see if their dogs or cats would drink beer or wine from their dish. What Spot and Simba want you to know is that they wouldn’t naturally grab a brew after a long day of tail-chasing, instead, they’d appreciate a cool drink of water and a nice new toy to play with.
• Accidentally leaving a drink within a pet’s reach. The hustle and bustle of the holidays means that as much as we slow down from work, we’re just as busy with holiday preparations and celebrations. So, we are also more likely to set a drink down where our furry friends can sample the newest flavors of the season.

The problem with both of those scenarios is that alcohol is poisonous to our pets. Alcohol is also poisonous to humans at high levels, so imagine what a much smaller taste could do to your puppy’s system. Another real danger for your dog (or cat) is an injury as a result of your human DUI. Driving under the influence is a big danger when we drink too much alcohol, with consequences like court costs, fines and a car breathalyzer (ignition interlock) requirement. But harming our pet may be one of the worst consequences we can face.

Any way you look at it, pets and alcohol don’t mix this holiday season, or anytime throughout the year. Keep your pets close, and the alcohol far away, and your worries over your pet health will at least be without the concerns of a doggie (or kitty) DUI!