Can Dogs Eat Nutmeg? Why This Fall Spice Is A Never Food

No. Nutmeg contains myristicin, a compound that can cause disorientation, a racing heart and high blood pressure in dogs, and seizures in large amounts. There is some reassurance here: the light dusting in a slice of pie or a cookie is unlikely to cause serious poisoning. The real danger is a dog that gets into the spice jar, chews a whole nutmeg or eats a heavily spiced dish.

If Your Dog Has Just Eaten Nutmeg

If your dog got into ground nutmeg from the jar or ate a whole nutmeg, or if it is acting strangely after eating anything spiced, call your vet now or one of the US animal poison lines (both charge a consultation fee):

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

Keep the jar or package handy, and have a rough idea of how much is missing and when it happened. Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. A dog that is already disoriented or shaky can inhale vomit into its lungs. Never use salt to cause vomiting, and do not give hydrogen peroxide or any home remedy without a vet’s instructions.

If your dog licked a bit of pumpkin pie or ate one spiced cookie, it will most likely be fine. Watch for the signs below over the next day, and call if any of them appear. Also check what else was in the food. Raisins, chocolate and xylitol are much bigger worries than the spice.

Why Nutmeg Is Toxic To Dogs

Nutmeg is the seed of the Myristica fragrans tree. Its oil contains myristicin, along with smaller amounts of related compounds such as elemicin and safrole. Myristicin acts on the nervous system, and it is the same compound behind nutmeg’s reputation for causing hallucinations in people who eat large amounts.

Mace, the lacy red covering around the seed, comes from the same plant and contains the same compounds. Treat it exactly like nutmeg.

How Much Nutmeg Is Dangerous?

There is no well established toxic dose for dogs, and we are not going to invent one. What poison centers agree on is the general pattern: the small amounts used in baking rarely cause trouble, while larger amounts, such as a spilled or chewed jar of ground nutmeg or one or more whole nutmegs, can cause real poisoning.

Size matters. A small dog is at more risk from the same amount than a large one. A whole nutmeg is also a hard, round seed, so a small dog that swallows one could choke on it or get it stuck in the gut.

Nutmeg Foods, Ranked

Nutmeg itself is always a Never food. The ratings below reflect how much nutmeg each food contains, and what else comes with it.

If the latte is what went missing, the caffeine is the bigger concern. Our guide to coffee and tea explains why.

Signs Of Nutmeg Poisoning

• Disorientation, confusion or acting as if seeing things that are not there
• A fast heart rate and high blood pressure
• Restlessness, agitation or, in some dogs, unusual drowsiness
• Dry mouth, vomiting and belly pain
• Tremors and, with large amounts, seizures

Signs usually start within a few hours of eating and can last up to about 48 hours. Any of them after a known exposure is a reason to call your vet.

What The Vet Will Do

There is no antidote for myristicin, so treatment is about clearing what is left and supporting the dog until it wears off. If the exposure was recent and your dog is still acting normally, the vet may make it vomit and give activated charcoal. A dog already showing signs may need sedation for agitation, medication for tremors or seizures, IV fluids and monitoring of its heart rate and blood pressure. With prompt care, most dogs recover well.

Where Dogs Find Nutmeg

Mid October is peak nutmeg season. Halloween baking, pumpkin spice everything and, soon, Thanksgiving pies and holiday eggnog all bring it out of the cupboard. Common sources:

• Spice jars on low shelves or left open on the counter during baking
• Whole nutmegs and a grater left out after use
• Raw batter, pie filling and spiced cookie dough
• Mulled cider and mulled wine, which also bring sugar or alcohol
• Potpourri and scented crafts made with whole spices

If you want to share the season with your dog, plain canned pumpkin is safe. Make sure it is pure pumpkin, not pie filling, which is already spiced. Check sweetened baked goods for xylitol, raisins and chocolate, which are all more dangerous than a pinch of spice.

Which Dogs Should Skip It

No dog should be given nutmeg on purpose. These dogs are at more risk if they find it:

• Small breeds and puppies, because the same amount means a bigger dose for them
• Dogs with heart disease or high blood pressure, since myristicin raises both heart rate and blood pressure
• Dogs with epilepsy or a history of seizures
• Senior dogs and dogs with liver or kidney disease
• Known counter surfers and trash raiders, which find the jar long before you notice

Nutmeg In Dog Food

You will not find it in a complete diet. Of the 3,117 published US dog foods in our catalog, not one lists nutmeg as an ingredient.

Seasonal “pumpkin spice” dog treats are a different story, because they are made to sound like the human version. Most use pumpkin with cinnamon or ginger, but read the ingredient list. If you see nutmeg or mace, choose another treat. Our dog food reviews go through what is actually in the bag.

Want to test what you know? Try the Safe or Never food quiz, and before you share anything else from the kitchen, look it up in the food checker.