Dog Ate Bread Dough or Alcohol: Emergency

Yeast dough is designed to rise in a warm, moist place, and a dog's stomach is exactly that. Once swallowed, the dough expands and can stretch the stomach, causing pain and sometimes breathing difficulty from pressure on the diaphragm. In rare cases the stomach can twist.

At the same time, the yeast ferments the sugars in the dough and releases alcohol, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. That means a dog can suffer both a mechanical problem (the expanding mass) and alcohol poisoning together.

Note: Baked bread is a different matter. Plain baked bread is not toxic in small amounts, although it is not especially good for dogs. The danger is raw, unbaked dough.

Dogs are much more sensitive to alcohol than people. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, wobbliness, a drop in body temperature, and slowed breathing, and larger amounts can lead to coma or death. The risk is greater for small dogs.

It is not only drinks. Eggnog, spiked punch, mulled wine, desserts made with liquor, rum-soaked fruitcake, and some cough syrups all contain alcohol. Beer and hops are a separate danger: hops can cause a dangerous rise in body temperature in dogs.

Signs can begin within an hour or so and may worsen quickly. Contact a vet immediately if you see any of these after your dog has eaten dough or had access to alcohol.

• A swollen, hard, or painful belly.
• Retching without producing anything.
• Vomiting, drooling, and restlessness.
• Wobbly walking, weakness, or a drunken appearance.
• Slow or labored breathing.
• Low body temperature, shivering, or collapse.
• Tremors or seizures.

Move quickly. The sooner your dog is seen, the more treatment options there are.

1. Take away any remaining dough or drink.
2. Estimate how much was eaten and when, and note your dog's weight.
3. Call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) are open around the clock and may charge a fee.
4. Follow their advice, which may involve bringing your dog in straight away.
5. Do not try to make your dog vomit or give home remedies unless a vet tells you to.

Treat rising dough and drinks as hazards, and plan for them like any other. Prove dough in the oven (switched off), on a high shelf, or in a closed room, and not on a low counter or table. Keep drinks off coffee tables and floors, and clear glasses promptly after guests leave.

Tell guests that dogs and alcohol do not mix, and that some food and drink should not be shared. A dog who is settled on a mat in another room is less likely to find a stray glass.

Dough accidents rarely involve a dog stealing a whole loaf. More often, it is dough left to rise on a low counter, a bowl on the kitchen table, discarded dough in an open bin, or pizza dough on a windowsill. Sourdough starters and fermented mixtures can also be a risk. Alcohol exposure often involves a glass left on the floor, a half-finished cocktail, melting punch in a bowl, or alcohol-soaked fruit in a dessert.

• Dough proving on counters, in warm kitchens, or near heaters.
• Unbaked dough thrown into compost or bins within reach.
• Spilled drinks, cocktails, and wine on low tables.
• Rum cake, fruitcake, and desserts made with liqueur.
• Hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and some medicines, which can contain alcohol.
• Fermenting fruit in the garden, such as fallen apples.

Have these details ready when you call, because they help the vet decide how urgently to see your dog.

1. Your dog's weight, age, and any health conditions.
2. What was eaten: dough, a drink, or both, and how much.
3. When it happened, and whether your dog has vomited since.
4. Any signs: a swollen belly, retching, wobbliness, drooling, or weakness.
5. Whether your dog has eaten recently, and what.

Prove dough in a closed oven (switched off), a high cupboard, or a room your dog cannot enter. Pick up glasses and cups as soon as people have finished, and remind guests not to leave drinks on the floor. Keep desserts containing alcohol on high shelves, and bin leftovers in a container with a locking lid. A dog who has learned a firm leave-it and a settle on a mat is much less likely to investigate.