Photo by Marty Caivano

Dr. Lee Woods, left, listens to the heart of a 4-month-old Brittany spaniel named Isabella, who is held by her owner, Charles Wilkinson, on Monday at the Broadway Animal Hospital and Pet Center in Boulder. Woods has seen an increase this holiday season in animals suffering from alcohol poisoning from owners who let their pets drink. Isabella was not one of those patients.

People who consider their pets honorary family members often want to include them in their holiday festivities. But pouring a little Christmas cheer into Fido's dog bowl isn't a good idea, animal-care experts say.

Alcohol can have the same effect on animals as it has on humans, which means drunken Dachshunds and schnockered Shih Tzus can become disoriented, nauseated and even poisoned, said veterinarian Lee Woods, director of Boulder's Broadway Animal Hospital and Pet Center, 1405 S. Broadway.

"Generally the symptoms are incoordination, inability to get up, vomiting and diarrhea," he said.

Woods said his south Boulder clinic sees a spike in alcohol-related dog and cat illnesses around the holidays. This season, Woods said, he's already seen between eight and 10 dogs who've had too much to drink.

"We've had a couple cases that required extensive medical care," he said.

Veterinarians had to give those inebriated dogs fluids intravenously while keeping a close eye on their temperature and pulse, Woods said.

"Sometimes there's enough depression that respiration is impaired," he said.

When it comes to alcoholic doggy-bowl drinks, Woods said, beer is the most common slurp of choice. But owners also occasionally share their pina coladas or daiquiris.

All the intoxicated dogs Woods has treated this season drank beer, except for one that had too much of a mixed drink and another that was given marijuana.

"Cats don't usually overindulge out of their own volition," Woods said. "But dogs want to join the party."

People give their pooches hooch for a simple reason, Woods said: They want to see their pets have a good time and reach that "happy" state.

"But lots of love and attention will suffice just fine," Woods said.

Some people get their dogs drunk so they can watch "Barney stumble around," he said. But animals aren't equipped to process alcohol like humans.

"Our patients are more sensitive than a lot of us two-legged creatures," he said, adding that smaller dogs are more vulnerable to alcohol than larger dogs.

"There is a weight relationship," he said. "An 80-pound Labrador can tolerate a lot more beer than a 3-pound Chihuahua."

Woods said he thinks his clinic sees more drunken dogs than other clinics because of its proximity to the University of Colorado campus. Former CU student Scott Wells, 38, of Eldorado Springs, said he recalls seeing plenty of drunken and high dogs during his college years.

"They used to blow bongs into their (dogs') ears," he said, referring to the irresponsible partiers of his youth. "I'm sure dogs got plenty of second-hand smoke in this neighborhood."

Wells said he wouldn't think of giving anything like that to his pet.

"I don't know what comes across people's minds that makes it seem all right," he said.

Pete Seibert said his pet pit bull, Sahara, has never been drunk. But he's given his dog some beer on occasion.

"If she comes up to it and starts licking it, it's cool," he said, adding that she gets pretty relaxed after a drink. "She might just chill out."

The sick pets that come into the Humane Society of Boulder Valley are typically there because they've had too many treats rather than too many drinks, said Lesli Groshong, chief veterinarian for the Humane Society. Rich foods like cake can cause gastrointestinal issues, and candies like chocolate can be toxic.

"The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be," Groshong said.

The Humane Society doesn't treat a lot of animals who've had alcohol, and Groshong said there's no law specifically prohibiting owners from giving their pets a cocktail. But anytime authorities are concerned for an animal's welfare, they investigate.

"I would call it stupid," she said. "But I don't know if it's abuse."

Contact Camera Staff Writer Vanessa Miller at 303-473-1329 or millerv@dailycamera.com.