My dog licked up some spilled eggnog. Is that an emergency?

A small lick of unspiked eggnog is unlikely to cause more than a grumbly stomach — watch for vomiting or unusual sleepiness. If the batch was spiked, the dog is small, or more than a lick went down, call your vet.

Why is nutmeg bad for dogs?

Nutmeg contains myristicin. The light dusting in a recipe is a small dose, but in larger amounts myristicin can cause disorientation, agitation, a racing heart and tremors in dogs — and in eggnog it rides along with alcohol and cream.

Is alcohol-free eggnog safe for dogs?

Safer, not safe. You remove the biggest danger but keep the cream, sugar, nutmeg and raw or lightly cooked egg — a rich mix that can still cause stomach upset or pancreatitis. Skip it.

Is advocaat the same problem as eggnog?

Yes — advocaat and ajerkoniak are essentially bottled eggnog with a higher alcohol content, which makes them worse, not better, for dogs.

Can Dogs Drink Eggnog? Vet-Sourced Answer

Can Dogs Drink Eggnog?

Toxic to dogs

No. Eggnog stacks cream, sugar, nutmeg and usually rum or brandy — alcohol and nutmeg are both toxic to dogs, and the fat can set off pancreatitis.

Quick facts

Quick facts
Verdict	Toxic
Risky amount	No safe or toxic dose is established — treat any amount as a risk.
Key symptoms	Vomiting, Diarrhea, Wobbliness or drowsiness (from alcohol), Abdominal pain, Disorientation or agitation (nutmeg, larger amounts), Tremors
What to do	If your dog drank more than a stray lick of eggnog — especially a spiked batch or a small dog — call your vet; alcohol poisoning and pancreatitis both deserve prompt advice.

Why eggnog is toxic to dogs

Eggnog manages to combine most of the holiday hazards in one glass. The usual rum or brandy is the headline: dogs are far more sensitive to alcohol than people, and even a saucerful can make a small dog wobbly, sick and dangerously drowsy. The spice on top is nutmeg, whose myristicin can cause disorientation, agitation and tremors in larger amounts. Underneath both sits a dense mix of cream, sugar and egg — rich enough to upset any stomach and to trigger pancreatitis in susceptible dogs.

Spiked, unspiked, or advocaat

An unspiked batch removes the worst danger but stays a bad idea: the cream-sugar-nutmeg base still earns its stomach-ache, and homemade versions often use raw egg. Advocaat and ajerkoniak sit at the other end — thicker, sweeter and considerably more alcoholic, so a lapped-up glass is a bigger emergency, not a smaller one.

What to do if your dog drank eggnog

Work out three things: was it spiked, how much went down, and how big is the dog. A stray lick of the alcohol-free kind means watching for vomiting or lethargy. Anything spiked beyond a lick — or any wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or tremors — means calling your vet straight away.

If your dog ate it

If your dog drank more than a stray lick of eggnog — especially a spiked batch or a small dog — call your vet; alcohol poisoning and pancreatitis both deserve prompt advice.

In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply).

Frequently asked questions

My dog licked up some spilled eggnog. Is that an emergency?: A small lick of unspiked eggnog is unlikely to cause more than a grumbly stomach — watch for vomiting or unusual sleepiness. If the batch was spiked, the dog is small, or more than a lick went down, call your vet.
Why is nutmeg bad for dogs?: Nutmeg contains myristicin. The light dusting in a recipe is a small dose, but in larger amounts myristicin can cause disorientation, agitation, a racing heart and tremors in dogs — and in eggnog it rides along with alcohol and cream.
Is alcohol-free eggnog safe for dogs?: Safer, not safe. You remove the biggest danger but keep the cream, sugar, nutmeg and raw or lightly cooked egg — a rich mix that can still cause stomach upset or pancreatitis. Skip it.
Is advocaat the same problem as eggnog?: Yes — advocaat and ajerkoniak are essentially bottled eggnog with a higher alcohol content, which makes them worse, not better, for dogs.