Suspect poisoning? US: ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · UK: 01202 509 000 · Severe symptoms → nearest emergency vet now.
Home / Answers / My 9 kg schnauzer snuck a spoonful of leftover curry with a…

My 9 kg schnauzer snuck a spoonful of leftover curry with a lot of freshly grated nutmeg in it — is this worse than baked goods with nutmeg?

Cats · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Freshly grated nutmeg in curry is arguably worse than in baked goods. The spice is dispersed through oily liquid, which means myristicin is already broken down and ready to absorb quickly into her bloodstream. A spoonful loaded with freshly grated nutmeg is not a trivial amount for a 9 kg dog. Repeated vomiting should appear within 2 to 4 hours, followed by muscle tremors and wobbliness through the afternoon and evening. Keep her out of direct heat, monitor her breathing closely, and call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 888-426-4435 with the details of what she ate.

Coffee & caffeine — Food safety facts

Do not feed · Cats · full breakdown on the linked food page

Toxic. Caffeine overstimulates the heart and nervous system — vomiting, tremors, seizures and even death at high doses.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Do not feed), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Coffee & caffeine should not be given to cats at all. Even a small amount can do harm, so there is no portion small enough to be safe.

Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or oil to “dilute” it. Note the food and roughly how much was eaten, then call your vet or a pet poison hotline and follow their advice on whether to bring the pet in straight away.

Why these cautions matter

Caffeine overstimulates the heart and nervous system, and pets clear it so slowly that tremors and restlessness drag on far longer than they would in a person.

Coffee & caffeine has no place in everyday feeding: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged after this and watch the litter box and how quickly they finish the next meal.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Coffee & caffeine food facts page.

Open the full food page: Coffee & caffeine food facts →

Owners also ask

Dogs · Food safety My 5‑lb dog ate a teaspoon of ground coffee, what should I do? Yes, coffee is toxic to dogs and this is an urgent situation. Caffeine can overstimulate the heart and… Cats · Food safety Can a cat eat coffee? What if she drank a little? No, cats cannot eat coffee. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, tremors, and seizures. If your cat drank… Dogs · Toxicity calculator My dog ate raisins from a cake — how urgent is it? Treat it as urgent. Raisins are more concentrated than grapes and can cause sudden kidney failure even in… Dogs · Food safety Can my dog eat green tomatoes or tomato leaves? Are they toxic? Yes, green tomatoes and tomato leaves are toxic to dogs. They contain solanine, a compound that can cause…

Find the full answer list →