- Alcohol + nutmeg + dairy
- Varies
- Affects: Brain & stomach
Why this verdict for dogs
Holiday eggnog usually contains alcohol (rum or brandy) plus heavy dairy, sugar, nutmeg and sometimes raw egg — a stack of risks. Skip it, or offer a tiny plain dog-safe treat instead.
Warning signs to watch for
- Wobbliness
- Vomiting / diarrhea
- Lethargy
⚠ If your dog drank eggnog
Act immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away.
- Note how much was eaten and when.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.
Eggnog manages to combine four separate pet hazards in one festive glass, which makes it one of the more deceptively risky things on a holiday table. Owners often think of it as a dairy drink rather than an alcoholic one.
How much is safe?
None, on multiple counts at once. There is alcohol, in a form disguised by sugar and cream so a pet will happily drink a lot of it. There is nutmeg, which contains myristicin and can cause disorientation, a racing heart and hallucination-like behaviour in dogs at meaningful doses. There is heavy cream and sugar, which most adult pets digest poorly. And traditional recipes use raw egg, which brings a salmonella risk. Even alcohol-free eggnog keeps the nutmeg, dairy and sugar problems.
What happens if a dog drinks too much?
Expect the alcohol effects first — wobbliness, vomiting, disorientation, falling body temperature. Nutmeg toxicity adds agitation, a fast heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors and disorientation that can last a day or two. The dairy and fat load frequently produce diarrhoea and, in susceptible dogs, can trigger pancreatitis, which shows as repeated vomiting, a hunched posture and severe belly pain.
⚠ What to do if your dog drank eggnog
Call your vet or a poison line and mention all the components: alcohol, nutmeg, dairy and raw egg (ASPCA 888-426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661). Have your pet's weight and roughly how much was drunk. Keep them warm, do not induce vomiting, and watch over the next two days for the delayed pancreatitis picture even if the initial wobbliness resolves.
⚠️ Worried your pet got into this?
Frequently asked questions
Is non-alcoholic eggnog safe to share?
Better, but still no. The nutmeg, the fat and the sugar remain, and pancreatitis from a rich holiday treat is a very common seasonal emergency.
How much nutmeg is actually dangerous?
A light dusting on a drink is unlikely to poison a large dog, but baking quantities are a different matter. Combined with alcohol in the same glass, it is not worth judging by eye.
More drinks for dogs
By the CanMyPet Editorial Team · Reviewed against ASPCA Animal Poison Control, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and Pet Poison Helpline · Last updated July 31, 2026.
Sources
- ASPCA — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- American Kennel Club — Dog Nutrition
- Pet Poison Helpline — Poison List