When it comes to baking cakes and seasonal cookies, nothing beats nutmeg. After all, this comes as no surprise considering the nutty and abundant fragrance of nutmeg.
Since nutmeg comes with such a rich smell, it can easily attract family members and friends to your kitchen.
Equally, your dog might be attracted to this exotic smell as well. But, is it ok to share freshly baked cookies with nutmeg with your canine?
Is nutmeg safe for your dog? With so many foods that aren’t safe for dogs – like salt, cholocate, and garlic, among others – where does nutmeg fits in? Is it good or is it a no-no? Let’s discover.
Can Dogs Eat Nutmeg?
Being a dog owner is more than providing excellent food and quality exercise to your canine. Anyone can be a dog owner, but not everyone can be a responsible dog owner.
Being a responsible dog owner means that you should know at any time what is right for your dog, and what is not.
Being well-informed about nutmeg falls into being a responsible dog owner category. That being said, here is what you should know about nutmeg and dogs.
So, Can Dogs Eat Nutmeg?
Dogs can eat almost anything. The right question is – Should they taste nutmeg? Long story short, no. Nutmeg is not safe for your dog, or any dog. If a dog consumes nutmeg, you can expect a long line of various complications.
Overall, spices are not designed for dogs, and many can lead to severe problems, if not a fatal outcome. Nutmeg contains a compound known as Myristicin, which is toxic to pets and can even lead to death.
If your dog comes in contact with this vicious ingredient, you can expect to see the first disturbing symptoms in the first 48 hours, including:
- hallucinations
- distortions
- increased blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- seizures
- abdominal pain
If your dog is a smaller breed, and he eats a cookie with nutmeg, you should immediately take him to your vet.
Nutmeg can easily and in no time to disturb your dog’s nervous system. Also, with nutmeg potential for toxicity is enormous.
Again: you should never give nutmeg to your dog.
Nutmeg Is Toxic For Dogs
Among foods that dogs shouldn’t eat, nutmeg should be on top of the list. This ingredient is so toxic to dogs that, if ingested in high doses, can lead to a fatal outcome.
Overall, nutmeg is poison for dogs. Nutmeg is included in human food often and in various forms. You can’t even know if there is a nutmeg or not, which makes things even worse.
Nutmeg is a classic example,l why human foods shouldn’t be shared with dogs. So, play it safe. If you are about to share human food with your canine, make sure that you ask if nutmeg is included.
Otherwise, never bake anything for your dog with nutmeg. This should go without mentioning, but it can’t harm to say it once again – if you make your dog homemade traits, never include nutmeg.
Why Nutmeg Is Harmful?
Nutmeg in large amounts can be harmful to your canine, so make sure that you puppy-proof your kitchen. Always keep spices high and out of reach. After every usage, return them as there were – closed and on a top-shelf.
You have probably heard how bad chocolate is to your dog? Nutmeg is on the same scale; that’s how dangerous it is.
For a spice, nutmeg can even be dangerous to humans, because it can provide high hallucinations and other serious problems.
Even less serious effects can cause a dog to experience:
- nausea
- dehydration
- general body pain
If you suspect that your dog has eaten nutmeg, you should first determine how much was consumed. So, make sure that you check leftovers and observe your canine for fast symptoms and signs. Depending on the amount you should react fast, or not.
Again, it all depends on the amount. Still, calling your veterinarian and sharing your concern should be the following step.
Your veterinarian may suggest you induce vomiting or to get to the animal hospital immediately.
Spices And Dogs Don’t Go Hand By Hand
In general, feeding dogs with human foods is not a good idea. the list of forbidden food for dogs is extremely long, and your canine can easily grab something that could make him ill. This applies to spices and food with spices.
Sometimes what’s right for a human is never suitable for dogs.
In general, any food with spices should never be present for dogs. It’s the safest to use specially designed dog treats when you want to reward your canine.
The Bottom Line
Never give any food to your dog if there is nutmeg. Also, if you think that there is a slight possibility of nutmeg being in any food, don’t serve it to your canine.
Spices to dogs are highly toxic, especially nutmeg, and can potentially affect a dog’s nervous system.
In some cases, if high amounts of nutmeg, or any spice, are ingested, the outcome maybe death. Always keep nutmeg away from the dog’s reach.
Frequently Asked Questions On Dogs And Nutmeg
1. How Much Nutmeg Will Hurt A Dog?
If your dog licks nutmeg or eats something with a minimal amount of nutmeg, you may notice symptoms in the first 48 hours. On the other hand, a significant amount of nutmeg can harm your dog seriously.
If your dog consumes nutmeg by accident, make sure that you call your veterinarian immediately. Also, keep an eye on the dog until you reach the veterinarian’s office.
2. Can Nutmeg Kill A Dog?
Nutmeg is fatally toxic for dogs. Of course, for the fatal outcomes, your dog should ingest a large amount of nutmeg. Therefore, to avoid any problem, avoid giving nutmeg to your dog.
This applies to food with nutmeg such as bread, soups, pie, store-bought foods like soup and nutmeg itself.
Make sure that nutmeg is always placed in a safe place.
3. Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon And Nutmeg?
Overall, cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, but it’s still considered to be a spice. That being said, it’s best to avoid giving your dog any food with cinnamon and nutmeg.
As you may know, in large amounts, nutmeg can create hallucinations and high heart rates in dogs.
4. What Happens If A Dog Eats Nutmeg?
The small amount of nutmeg in baking recipes is highly unlikely to cause severe toxicity.
Still, even the tiny amount can stomach upset, more severe than diarrhea. On the other hand, if a large amount of nutmeg is ingested, then it can lead even to a fatal outcome.
5. How Much Nutmeg Can A Dog Eat?
Since nutmeg is harmful to dogs, no nutmeg should ever be given to dogs.
If your dog still manages to eat nutmeg or some human foods with nutmeg, you should contact a veterinarian and observe your dog carefully for symptoms.
