Beverages Dogs Can and Cannot Drink

You know there are people foods your dog can and cannot safely eat. But were you aware that there are beverages dogs can and cannot drink?

As a novice dog owner, I was not aware of this. Maybe it’s because I never considered giving my dog anything other than water. Which is a good thought process to have. Water is the best beverage for our dogs. The concern between filtered and tap and fresh water will be addressed in next week’s post.

The subject of what beverages dogs can and cannot drink came up while Pandora watched our alcoholic cat lap up the last dredges of my husband’s beer. Yes, you read that right. We have a cat that has an alcohol problem. He loves campfires, too, which is awesome. But I’m pretty sure if he were human he’d be in the tank after a night of drinking and carousing and barroom brawling. We spoke to the vet about Ollie’s love of beer. Ollie would hop on people’s laps and try to tug their beer away from them. The vet said he’d be okay. He asked if Ollie had a beer preference. And he does, Ollie likes ales, preferably Freemont Interurban.

My husband wondered if Pandora would like a sip. I did my typical, let me check Google. And surprisingly, the answer was “no.” Dogs should not drink beer. So, of course, I went down the rabbit hole to find what other beverages dogs can and cannot drink.

Disclaimer

I’m not a veterinarian. Always consult with your vet first. Likewise, know your dog, know your dog’s health, and if something doesn’t seem like a good idea, don’t do it.

Beverages Dogs Can Drink

Yes, these beverages are okay for dogs to drink. HOWEVER, the safest option when giving any of these beverages to your dog is to do no more than a couple tablespoons. Water is always the best option. Dogs are completely fine without other beverage choices.

Milk – Cow or Goat
Lactose Free Milk
Soy, Coconut, Almond, Oat – Oat milk is supposedly, the safest of all the milk options (double check with your vet, always just a little bit)
Gatorade/Powerade – yes, but not the best, these drinks usually have sugar. Double check the ingredients for added dyes and any sweetener additions that may be toxic to dogs.
Pedialyte – Just a bit, check with your vet.
Sparkling and or Mineral water – Completely unnecessary for your pet, plain water is best. But in a pinch a few tablespoons should be fine.
Decaffeinated Teas – Surprisingly these are okay. Some may offer antioxidants
Along the lines of the above – Herbal Teas, like Rooibos and Camomile
Fruit Juices – Most are okay, if they are fresh. Store bought usually has dyes and extra sugars. NO GRAPE.
Vegetable Juices – Again, fresh juiced. V-8 has way too much sodium. Always read the labels for ingredients that are harmful for dogs.

Oat milk is derived from whole oat grains soaked and mixed in water, sometimes with an added sweetener such as sugar. Oat milk is highly digestible and has practically no toxic components, making it very safe to give to dogs. It also contains higher nutritional components such as vitamin B-complex, calcium, and Vitamin D compared to other plant-based milk products.
The only risk associated with oat milk in dogs is its relatively high fiber content. While fiber is essential in keeping a healthy GI tract, too much of it can lead to various symptoms like constipation and diarrhea.
Can my dog drink almond, soy, or oat milk? | FirstVet

Beverages Dogs Cannot Drink – some they can, but shouldn’t

I want to point out that for the most part, all the yesses and nos are consistent across the board. However, there are times I see some sites say yes and other sites say no. My thoughts when it comes to differences is to err on the side of caution and go with the No.

Grape juice – just as the regular fruit is highly toxic, so is the juice.
Coconut Water – this is one that I find people saying yes and no about. However, I did hear a vet say “no,” so I’m erring on the side of caution.
Anything with caffeine – coffee, soda, tea
Wine – no, it’s made from grapes
Beer – Varying opinions but see the quote from the AKC at the end of this list (BONUS: They have an Ethanol Concentration Chart at that link.
Hard Alcohol/ Liquor – No.
Egg Nog – Raw Eggs, sugar, and alcohol.

Alcohol toxicity is not as common as you may think, because dogs are not innately drawn to alcoholic beverages.
Dogs may tend to be more attracted to fruit-based drinks, cocktails, punches, ciders, seltzers, and foods with alcohol as a key ingredient. Another serious consideration is diet alcoholic beverages or other mixers that may contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is highly dangerous, and even fatal, if consumed by a dog.
How Harmful Is Alcohol To Dogs? What To Do if Your Dog Drinks Alcohol (akc.org)

Bottom Line on the Beverages Dogs Can and Cannot Drink

Err on the side of caution. Talk to your veterinarian. Most of the front-end staff can answer your questions, but if they can’t they’ll ask the doctor and get back to you. Don’t be afraid to call and check.

Keep your veterinarian’s number in your phone as well as the number to your local animal hospital.