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If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested nutmeg, this is considered an \u201cORANGE\u201d \u2013 or urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. If veterinary care is advised, call your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital ahead of your arrival.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As the days get colder and darker here in Minnesota, people are busy planning winter get-togethers and heating up the oven for holiday goodies. Whether you\u2019re whipping up a batch of gingerbread cookies, perfecting your spice cake, or doctoring your eggnog, we bet you\u2019re stocking up on nutmeg for your favorite seasonal dishes. But pet parents, not so fast! Before you start adding a dash of nutmeg to everything, we encourage you to step away from the spices and learn why nutmeg can pose a serious danger to your dog and cat!<\/p>\n Nutmeg contains\u00a0myristicin, a narcotic that can cause hallucinations in pets\u00a0(and actually, in people!)\u00a0A toxic dose can be as little as one teaspoon of ground nutmeg to two or three whole nutmegs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After your pet eats nutmeg, symptoms can occur rapidly. Common symptoms include:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I<\/span>f the pet is showing symptoms,\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>reatment for nutmeg intoxication is\u00a0<\/span>primari<\/span>ly supportive care. If a large amount of nutmeg is suspected<\/span>\u00a0to have been ingested<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0a tube may be used to flush the pet\u2019s stomach and remove as much of the spice as possible.\u00a0<\/span>Activated charcoal is then given to help bind the toxins that have already entered the bloodstream. If your dog or cat does eat a large amount of nutmeg, hospitalization is recommended so the veterinary team can closely monitor your pet\u2019s vitals and changes in mentation or seizures. Typically, pets stay in-hospital for 24-48 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As with all toxins, the best prevention for nutmeg toxicity is to keep your spice rack and whole nutmegs (in air-tight containers) out of your pet\u2019s reach. While baking or cooking, we also recommend keeping pets out of the kitchen \u2013 especially if you\u2019re using any\u00a0<\/span><\/span>toxic ingredients<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you suspect your dog or cat ate ground nutmeg or food that contain<\/span>e<\/span>d nutmeg,\u00a0<\/span>we encourage\u00a0<\/span>contact<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center<\/span><\/span><\/a>. They can help determine if your pet consumed a toxic amount of nutmeg and if veterinary care is recommended.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nUnderstanding Nutmeg Toxicity\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nTreatment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Prevention<\/span>\u00a0Tips<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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