No, dogs can’t eat nutmeg. As a general rule of thumb, you should never feed your dog human food that contains seasonings. There are many spices and herbs that aren’t particularly healthy for dogs to eat, and there are some that can be downright toxic.
For example, dogs should not eat anything that has nutmeg and you should definitely not include nutmeg in any homemade dog treat recipes. Nutmeg is extremely toxic and can be poisonous to dogs.
In fact, it can even be fatal if enough has been ingested so you should absolutely include this along with chocolate, garlic, onions, coffee, and beer in your list of things not to give your pup!
Symptoms of Nutmeg Toxicity
Although nutmeg is a common seasoning that is perfectly safe for us to eat, it can be incredibly harmful to your dogs. Nutmeg contains myristicin, which is a toxin that can affect the central nervous system in dogs causing seizures and even death.
If you think that your dog has gotten into something containing nutmeg by mistake, you should watch out for the following below common symptoms of nutmeg toxicity which can last for several days following ingestion:
- Dry mouth
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart rate
- Confusion
- Seizures
Generally, small doses of nutmeg won’t be fatal so it’s unlikely you’ll have to worry if your dogs happen to eat a cookie or other baked item containing nutmeg since it’s likely a very small amount.
The side effects from low dosages of nutmeg are typically minimal, if any at all, and include a bit of vomiting or diarrhea. This will usually resolve itself within a couple of days and you will likely have nothing to worry about. However, it’s still a good idea to contact your veterinarian, just to be on the safe side.
On the other hand, this can be an entirely different scenario if your dog ends up eating an entire batch of cookies or accidentally ingests pure nutmeg from your spice rack.
In these dosages, nutmeg can be fatal for your pup and it is recommended to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect that your dog has had a large dose of nutmeg.
Keep in mind that the size of your dog also plays a role in this. A dose that may not affect a large dog could be fatal to a small pup.
If you are unable to get in touch with your veterinarian or an on-call emergency vet, you can also contact Animal Poison Control (there is a charge for this service) at 1-888-426-4435.
No, Dogs Can’t Eat Nutmeg
When you come right down to it, dogs really don’t need to have extra seasonings in anything they eat. They do not have the same taste buds as humans, and many of the things that we eat, including nutmeg, could be potentially fatal to your dog.
If you cook with nutmeg, be sure to keep it well out of the reach of your dog. It only takes a few seconds for a dog to get into something that they shouldn’t so you should always remain vigilant and practice safety first with foods that are toxic for your pups!