Oops! My dog drank the eggnog. What do I do?
The holidays are a great time to kick back, relax and enjoy some eggnog with your family. Even if your dog is giving you puppy eyes, it’s not a good idea to share your eggnog with them. Sometimes, though, you turn your back and your canine companion gets a couple licks in anyway!
What’s so dangerous about eggnog?
- Alcohol: Man’s best friend can’t party as hard as humans do. Your dog is a lightweight, and alcohol can easily cause vomiting, diarrhea, a drunken gait and even coma or death.
- Raw eggs: Raw eggs could mean food poisoning for dogs and humans alike.
- Milk or heavy cream: Your dog is lactose intolerant, so dairy products might lead to diarrhea and upset stomach.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is mostly made from alcohol. Remember that your dog is a lightweight!
- Sugar: A little sugar isn’t bad for most dogs, but if your pup has diabetes, this could impact those sugar levels you’re working so hard to maintain.
- Spices: Spices in eggnog, such as nutmeg or cloves, could have toxic effects in large quantities.
Steps to protect your dog from drinking eggnog include:
- Keep a lid on the eggnog.
- Keep drinks up high and out of reach.
- To avoid temptation, consider putting your canine friend somewhere safe while the eggnog and other holiday favorites are out.
- For homemade eggnog, keep your recipe handy. For eggnog that you bought at the store, make sure to save the ingredients label or take a picture of it. This information can help your veterinarian determine if there is cause for concern in case your dog gets their paws on some eggnog.
If you think your dog drank eggnog, you should contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away!
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