Whenever you had a tummy ache as a kid, your mom probably gave you ginger ale, whether it was warm or straight out of the fridge. For many of us it worked. Ginger has documented antiemetic and anti-inflammatory properties that can ease nausea in people, but the small amount of real ginger contained in ginger ale means that its therapeutic qualities are likely to be more placebo than real. The fact that this ginger ale was likely ‘lovingly prescribed by mom’ probably helped, too! But you may wonder if you can take this childhood remedy to your pet’s digestive woes.
The short answer is no.
There are several aspects to consider with this question. There is the effect of ginger. Also, you can’t ignore the fizzy factor. Then, we have to talk about what’s in your soda. All of these factors contribute to the final answer about whether you can give your pup this beverage. Let’s do a deep dive into each one of them.
Can Dogs Have Ginger Ale?
Ginger itself (Zingiber officinale) is not inherently toxic to dogs, and small, controlled amounts of ginger have been studied for potential digestive benefits. However, ginger ale is not an appropriate or safe way to give ginger to dogs.
While limited research suggests ginger may have anti-nausea properties in people, and possibly mild gastrointestinal effects in animals, there is no evidence supporting ginger ale as a treatment for digestive upset in dogs. Most commercial ginger ales contain only trace amounts of ginger flavoring, along with carbonation, sugar or artificial sweeteners, and acids that can irritate a dog’s gastrointestinal tract.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated ginger-derived compounds and concluded that standardized ginger extracts can be safely used as feed additives for dogs at carefully controlled doses. However, these findings apply to measured extracts in pet food formulations, not to human soft drinks. Because the concentration of ginger in ginger ale is proprietary and highly variable, there is no way to determine a safe or effective dose for dogs.
Additionally, the carbonation and acidity of ginger ale may worsen nausea, cause bloating, or lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. For these reasons, ginger ale is not recommended for dogs, even in small amounts.
We should clarify that these findings pertain to Zingiber officinale, the Asian variety that you’ll see in the produce section of your grocery store and not wild ginger. The former is the type used in soft drinks that contain this ingredient. The report also determined an amount that the panel considered safe at 0.26 milliliters/kilogram for dogs, which is roughly 1 fluid ounce of ginger ale for a 10-pound dog.
Our research did not identify a concentration of ginger in the soft drink, presumably because it’s a proprietary formula. However, ginger beer will likely have more of the root, putting it off the table on this score. A risk of irritation always exists when giving your dog anything new. It might even make his nausea worse as a result.
Sparkling Water and Your Pup
The next thing we need to discuss is carbonation. This quality of ginger ale is likely foreign to your pup. You may even find that he’s afraid of the bubbles. The effects on his digestive tract can include gas accumulation, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and regurgitation.
Carbonated beverages provide no health benefit to dogs and may increase gastrointestinal discomfort, particularly in dogs prone to gastric sensitivity or bloat-like signs.
Sweeteners and Your Pet
Aside from the reasons we’ve already discussed, it only takes a quick look at the ingredients listed on a bottle of ginger ale to see that you shouldn’t give your dog this beverage. It doesn’t matter if the soda is regular or diet. Let’s break it down, ingredient by ingredient. Using Schweppe’s Ginger Ale as an example, we find that the pop contains:
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Citric acid
- Sodium benzoate (preservative)
- Caramel color
- Natural flavors
We’ve discussed carbonation and ginger already. Let’s talk sweeteners. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a common ingredient in many foods and beverages. It offers an advantage over other sugars because manufacturers can use less of it because of an increased perception of sweetness. Research has also shown that it doesn’t affect the human body differently than regular table sugar, i.e., sucrose.
The problems with HFCS or any other sweetener are the same as they are in people—obesity. The other concern is that it can cause spikes in you or your dog’s blood sugar. That is dangerous for diabetic dogs. Artificial ones aren’t much better, especially xylitol. It can lower your pup’s blood sugar to harmful levels and cause liver failure.
Then, we come to citric acid. The name should raise a red flag from the start. It’s what gives lemons and other citrus fruits their pucker power. It’s also another possible source of irritation for your pet because it packs quite a punch in your ginger ale’s acidity. Canada Dry Ginger Ale, for example, is on the extremely erosive end of the spectrum at 2.82 pH.
By comparison, straight lemon juice is 2.25 pH.
Sodium benzoate is a preservative used in a wide array of foods and beverages. The FDA considers it as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The primary safety concerns exist if you get it in your eyes. We can rule it out as something you have to worry about with ginger ale. The same thing applies to the caramel color.
Treating Nausea and Other Digestive Issues
We’d be remiss if we didn’t address why you would even consider giving your dog ginger ale in the first place.
Vomiting is a clinical sign, not a diagnosis. Causes range from mild dietary indiscretion to serious systemic disease, including pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, liver disease, and endocrine disorders.
If vomiting occurs only once and your dog otherwise appears normal, monitoring may be appropriate. However, veterinary attention is warranted if vomiting is accompanied by:
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Drooling
- Abdominal pain or repeated vomiting
These symptoms may indicate a more serious health condition that warrants a visit to your vet. We’d strongly urge you not to give your pup ginger ale or any other home remedy.
If you want to speak with a vet but don't want to leave home, you can head to PangoVet.com. It's our online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your dog — all at an affordable price!
Final Thoughts About Giving Your Dog Ginger Ale
Final Thoughts About Giving Your Dog Ginger AleEven though ginger ale probably helped your nausea, we can’t say the same thing for dogs. While ginger might be okay, the carbonation, acidity, and sweetening agents are all reasons not to give your dog a sip of your pop. If it’s not serious, fasting for 8-12 hours and access to fresh water may help. If the signs continue, take your pet to the vet instead.
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Featured Image Credit: JayMantri, Pixabay
Can Dogs Have Ginger Ale?
