Can Dogs Eat Nutmeg?
If you cook a lot, especially around the holidays, your dog may have eaten something with nutmeg accidentally or on purpose. After you did this, you probably quickly thought about whether or not nutmeg was safe for your puppy.
The short answer is that it probably won’t hurt your dog in small amounts, but if your dog eats a lot of it, it can cause serious problems.
Below, we’ll talk about what nutmeg can do to your dog and how you can stop him from eating it.
How safe is nutmeg for dogs?
Myristicin, a poison found in nutmeg, can be bad for your dog’s health. There isn’t much myristicin in nutmeg, so a small amount probably won’t bother your puppy.
However, if your dog eats nutmeg or anything else containing myristicin, such as parsley, pepper, or wild carrots, it could cause health problems.
Among these problems are:
- Hallucinations
- disorientation
- elevated heart rate
- high blood pressure
- abdominal pain
- Seizures
Even though it sounds funny to watch a dog see things, it’s not funny at all. If you can keep your dog from eating too much nutmeg, that would help.
The good news is that you must eat a lot of nuts before you start having serious health problems.
Even though your dog probably doesn’t eat much, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to how much nutmeg it eats.
How should I treat my dog who has eaten nutmeg?
If your dog ate a small amount of nutmeg in something like a roasted treat, there’s probably not much to worry about.
If there is, you should check the treatment to ensure it doesn’t have anything worse, like raisins.
Don’t just assume, though, that your dog will be fine. Watching them for a day would be best way to ensure they aren’t doing anything strange. It would be best if you watched out for changes in rhythm or the feeling that your stomach hurts.
If you eat a lot of nutmeg, the effects can last up to 48 hours, so don’t think you’re fine just because it’s been a few hours.
But the longer your dog goes without showing any signs of illness, the less likely it will hurt him.
It would be best to worry even more when your dog consumes a lot of nutmeg. Call your vet or the poison control center in your area and ask for advice on what to do next.
They might ask how much your dog has eaten, so try to figure out what is missing, if possible.
The overall outlook for your dog will depend on many things, like how much nutmeg it ate and how big it is.
As with most things, smaller dogs are likelier to get sick from smaller amounts of toxins.
Why does my dog eat nutmeg?
Dogs usually eat nutmeg because their owners gave them something with nutmeg in it.
To fix this problem, stop feeding your dog anything with nutmeg (or stop giving them human food altogether).
Dogs will sometimes eat nutmeg because they can pick it up independently. If that’s the case, keep anything edible up high where your dog can’t get to it and teach him not to counter-surf.
It might be hard to stop this bad behavior, so you might want to buy a baby gate to keep them out of the kitchen completely.
You should also teach your dog a command to tell him not to eat nutmeg-flavored food that has fallen on the ground
This is a very useful command because it can keep your dog from eating all kinds of things that could kill it (not that its food is dangerous).
Conclusion? Is it safe for dogs to consume nutmeg?
Sadly, nutmeg is unsafe for dogs, but your pet would need to consume a large amount of the stuff to get serious problems.
Most dogs aren’t really into nutmeg, so your dog probably won’t eat enough to cause problems.
Still, you should be careful not to let your dog eat nutmeg because it’s not good for them, even if it doesn’t make them sick.
This is especially true because many things that have nutmeg also have other ingredients that are bad for you, like salt, fat, and possible toxins like raisins.
Don’t give in to your pet’s puppy eyes when you’re eating a Christmas cookie. Give them something more appropriate, like that whole ham you have in the oven (don’t do that, though).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dogs Eat Nutmeg?
There are 5 safe spices for dogs and 5 dangerous spices.
Do dogs like spices? Even though dogs don’t need a five-star meal, many owners like to cook for their dogs in ways that suit their tastes.
Additionally, many people believe that making their dog food is healthier. So why not make it taste better? Can dogs get sick from certain spices?
Spices aren’t good for dogs’ health; some can even hurt them. But some spices are good for our pets’ health, especially if they have certain health problems.
The following is a list of spices your dog should avoid and those that are not. Change your dog’s diet slowly, and talk to your vet before you try something new.
Spices that can be toxic to dogs include these five
Some things on this list may sound familiar, but some may be brand new. Here are the five most dangerous spices for dogs and why they shouldn’t be used.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Cocoa powder
- Nutmeg
Onion
Onions and onion powder can easily make a dog sick to his stomach and make him throw up or have diarrhea.
Onions have chemicals called sulfoxides and disulfides that can hurt red blood cells.
This can cause anemia over time. A vet can tell you more about why dogs shouldn’t eat onions.
Garlic
People have different ideas about garlic. Some dog owners use it to keep fleas away from their pets.
Nevertheless, garlic can harm some pets, so it’s best to avoid it or discuss it with your vet.
Salt
Even though people put salt in almost everything they eat, this isn’t good for our dogs. Salt makes you thirsty and makes you pee more, making you lose water.
Eating much of it can also make you throw up, feel sick, and have diarrhea.
Only 200 mg of sodium a day is what a 33-pound adult dog should be able to eat.
One cup of noodle soup can have as much as 1,480 mg of sodium. Over seven times as much as your dog needs daily.
Cocoa powder
Even though cocoa powder is not a spice, it is used often in baking, and some pet owners may not know it can be dangerous.
Like chocolate, cocoa powder can make dogs sick in the same way. Its chemical is like caffeine and hurts a dog’s nervous system. Cocoa powder can cause kidney and heart problems, so avoid using it.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a spice you might not expect to be toxic to dogs, but it can cause severe stomach problems and nervous system agitation.
If a dog eats nutmeg, it might get too excited and try to keep going. Nutmeg can kill some people and is considered a very dangerous spice.
Mace, which comes from the same plant as nutmeg, has the same risks as nutmeg, so it’s also best to stay away from it.
Is it sad that your dog doesn’t enjoy pumpkin spice? You can make a special mix of spices that dogs can eat.
What are the 5 safe spices for dogs?
The majority of spices are safe for dogs. Here are the first five, some good recipes, and possible health benefits.
Basil
This aromatic herb contains antioxidants that can fight viruses and bacteria. In addition to helping ease the pain of arthritis, it can also help relieve stress and anxiety.
Try our Pizza Bones for dogs with oregano and basil, or give your dog a sprinkle of citrus basil cologne, used in aromatherapy to make people feel better.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon can help fight the effects of diabetes because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
In store-bought foods, cinnamon can also reduce aflatoxins. (Fungi that make aflatoxins grow in the canopy and on other plants.)
Cinnamon can also help make your breath smell better. Some of our favorite dishes, like Apple Pie Bites, have cinnamon.
Spread this pet-safe cinnamon colony on your dog after a good grooming session or on her bed for a boost of aromatherapy. For a boost of antioxidants, try a cinnamon and lamb training treat.
Ginger
A nice addition to this list is ginger root, another delicious ingredient that reduces inflammation and kills bacteria.
In addition to helping the digestive system work better, it can also help stop nausea. In addition, it promotes blood flow.
Fresh ginger is very strong, so dried ginger or ginger powder can be used instead.
Bags of pills with ginger are great for dogs with stomachaches, and who doesn’t like the idea of making honey bread for dogs?
Parsley
Parsley has antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are helpful to you. It helps organs work better, eliminates waste from the body, and eliminates bad breath.
It is easy to grow in most places in the United States.
Make some of our refreshing dog treats, or grab some of these fancy cookies that combine the powers of parsley, mint, and gingerbread into one super treat.
Mint and parsley are used in these Dentacare dental chews to help fight dog breath.
Turmeric
Turmeric, which comes from a root like ginger, speeds up weight loss by making the body burn more calories. You can use it to keep your heart, joints, and brain in good shape.
In addition to preventing cancer and anemia, turmeric helps people with arthritis feel better.
A turmeric supplement made just for dogs is a great way to get these healing effects, or you can try our pumpkin treats with turmeric that are spiced.
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