You’re about the celebrate the end of a long work week by cracking open a cold one.
Can Fido have one too?
After all, she’s been such a good girl all week.
While dogs shouldn’t have alcohol, there are a few other dog drink recipes you can make at home. They won’t get her drunk, but we guarantee, she’ll be safer and enjoy the taste a lot more.
In this post, we’ll discuss why beer is bad for dogs and give you 5 DIY alternatives. They’re perfect to make whenever you want to celebrate alongside your four-legged friend.
Is Beer Bad for Dogs?
Yes, beer and alcohol in general are bad for dogs. Just as you wouldn’t feed a child alcohol, you should never give it to your dog.
Even if you’ve seen other people pour a little beer for their dog, or your dog likes the smell, you should resist.
Hops are Toxic to Dogs
As you may know, beer contains hops. Hops are acids and a basic ingredient in beer that help give it flavor and smell. Although it’s not exactly known why, hops can cause a variety of issues of in some dogs.
If a dog has hops, problems can include::
- Vomiting
- Problems breathing
- Kidney damage
If you have a beer making kit or make your own, you should keep hops up high and in a spot unreachable by your dog.
Can Dogs Drink Alcohol?
Another strike against beer: It contains alcohol. It’s not too difficult to imagine why that’s bad for dogs. Think about it: Alcohol is bad for humans and we’re often 1.5-10 times their size. In humans, alcohol can cause anything from headaches to vomiting or actual alcohol poisoning. Just like us, it’s also terrible for their kidneys. Now consider the weight of your dog compared to you. It will likely take a lot less for them to get drunk and feel the effects. Also, many of us build up a tolerance for alcohol over time. Dogs don’t.
You should avoid giving your dog any type of alcohol (wine is also bad for dogs because they’re made of grapes, another poison). Even in small amounts, it can affect your dog. This includes soaked fruits, desserts or smaller amounts in “non-alcoholic” beers, wines or coolers.
In summary, alcohol is bad for dogs because it can cause:
- Stomach issues
- Diarrhea
- Intoxication
- Vomiting
- Kidney damage
- Heart failure
- Coma
Dog Drink Recipes
Just because dogs can’t have alcohol doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a nice dog-friendly mocktail.
Why would you want to give your pup a drink? Here’s a few ideas:
- As a liquid an easy DIY dog treat
- During holiday gatherings when everyone else is drinking
- To cool down during a hot summer’s night
- To celebrate with you safely
- For their birthday (in dog years, the legal drinking age is 3 😉
- As a Friday/Saturday night tradition
What you should know before making a DIY dog cocktail recipe:
- More Bathroom Breaks. Whichever recipe you choose, remember that your dog will likely need additional bathroom breaks. If he’s drinking more than he’s used to, you’ll need to let him out after he’s finished. If not, you can expect accidents.
- Consider Your Dog’s Diet. You should also consider how each recipe factors into your dog’s diet and health. For example, don’t choose a high-sugar recipe if your dog has diabetes.
- Your Dog’s Size. Larger breeds can drink/eat more per serving. If you have a smaller dog, these recipes may be multiple servings.
BarkTail Broth
Barktail Broth
If you eat chicken, you probably already have all the ingredients to make this now. Canines love the meat bits found floating throughout this glorious barktail.
- <br />Cooked or raw chicken bones<br />
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp Parsley or oregano
- Water<br /><br />
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Put bones in pot and pour water until it's covered by 3 inches extra. Add apple cider vinegar. Boil and simmer for 3 hours or longer.
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Alternatively, follow these instructions but make it in a crockpot. Turn on high for about an hour and then turn to low for up to 20 hours.
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Pour mixture through a strainer and into a container. You may choose to pick out any meat bits, but make sure you don’t include any sharp bones! Add parsley or oregano.
Muttgaridas
Muttgaridas
While you sip your Margarida, it’s only fitting that your pup also have a muttgarida.
- Chicken broth ((Use the recipe above to make broth. You can also use store-bought broth. Look for healthy, low-sodium versions))
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Pour broth into an ice cube tray and freeze. Blend in a blender. To be fancy, pour in a plastic margarida glass or to ensure no spillage, pour into a dog bowl.
Doggy Daiquiri
Doggy Daiquiri
Perfect to beachside furbabes.
- 1/4 cup Strawberries
- 1/4 Banana
- a c Water
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Blend ingredients in a blender. Serve fresh in a plastic daiquiri glass to be fancy or in a dog bowl to ensure no spillage.
Doggie Daiquiri Popsicles
A super easy adaption of the Doggie Daiquiri recipe above.
- Follow recipe above
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Follow the recipe above, but pour blended ingredients into an ice cube tray. Pop out into a bowl on hot days to cool down your canine.
Pupslide Mudslide
Pupslide Mudslide
You may be sipping on your mudslide, but since chocolate is another big doggy no-no, your furbabe can only dream. That is until they try this DIY dog-friendly mudslide.
- 1/4 c Plain/Natural Greek yogurt
- 1/4 c Water
- 2 tbsp Peanut butter or soy butter
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Blend ingredients in a blender. Serve in a bowl for a delicious doggy dessert.
Summary on Beer For Dogs
It’s not okay to give your dog beer or any other type of alcohol. The substance is toxic to humans (think hangovers and alcohol poisoning), so it’s easy to understand why it would also be bad for our four-legged friends. Also, consider that most pets weigh a lot less than us, making them even more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Even if you see someone else do it and their dog looks fine and seems to enjoy it, don’t try it. Keep beer, wine and liquor out of reach.
If you want your dog to get in on the celebration, consider making them a doggy mocktail. Our recipes above combine dog safe ingredients for a yummy treat. Just remember: If she drinks more than usual, she will need to go to the bathroom more often than usual. Let her out or take her for an additional walk afterward.
