All of us have been there. Our first thought when our dogs eat something they shouldn’t—human medication, another dog’s medication, or a delectable treat like chocolate or raisins—is, “How can I make my dog puke up? A dangerous substance like chocolate can be quickly removed from your dog’s body by making them vomit. But it’s crucial to know how to safely induce vomiting in dogs. Before you make your dog puke, you should be aware of the following.
When to (or Not to) Make a Dog Throw Up
A dog might vomit anything up on his own if he consumes something toxic that he shouldn’t have. Making your dog vomit something he’s eaten could seem like a smart idea if that doesn’t work. However, the truth is that you should only try to induce vomiting when under the supervision of a veterinarian. This is for very excellent reasons. Keep in mind that some businesses offer live chat and video options to connect you with a vet if yours is not available.
Batteries, other caustic compounds, and sharp items are just a few examples of things that, if regurgitated, might inflict dangerous and even fatal harm. The act of making someone vomit itself carries hazards, such as aspiration pneumonia, which is brought on by breathing poisonous chemicals, typically gastrointestinal contents, into the lungs. Swallowed objects can also result in obstructions or perforations. After producing vomiting, you might think about calming your dog’s throat with a liquid respiratory supplement appropriate for pets.
Because there is a risk of aspiration pneumonia in brachycephalic breeds like Pugs or Pekingese, it is best to see a veterinarian before attempting to induce vomiting in them. Inducing vomiting in a dog that is groggy, comatose, or having convulsions is not advised. Depending on what was swallowed, if your dog consumed something more than two to six hours ago, it might be too late to induce vomiting.
The best course of action is to take your dog to the veterinarian’s office right away. If you can’t make it there, you might have to make yourself throw up at home. Before you act, consult a veterinarian or, in the event that your dog ingests something harmful when your veterinarian’s office is closed, dial a pet poison control hotline to seek guidance from the professionals. When you contact, be prepared to give crucial details including what, when, and how much your dog consumed, as well as his weight and any potential medical issues.
Why Hydrogen Peroxide?
To induce vomiting in dogs, a 3-percent solution of hydrogen peroxide is advised. Fortunately, many of us already have it in our medicine cabinet. A bottle should be included in your dog’s travel first aid pack as well.
Hydrogen peroxide is a topical antiseptic that is “orally delivered as a home-administered emetic in dogs when clients are unable to take the patient to a veterinary hospital in a timely way,” according to PetMD. In general, hydrogen peroxide takes 10 to 15 minutes to start working, recovering roughly 50% of the stomach contents that your dog has swallowed. Hydrogen peroxide is irritating to the dog’s intestinal tract. Make sure your dog is given the medication in a location where he will feel as comfortable throwing up as possible because the vomiting could last up to 45 minutes.
When provided by a veterinarian, hydrogen peroxide is typically regarded as safe. However, you do not have the luxury of veterinary knowledge at home. If your dog displays any of the following signs or ailments, do not force him to vomit:
- Already throwing up.
- quite sluggish.
- Comatose.
- decreased capacity for swallowing.
- trouble breathing
- seizures or erratic behavior.
- Megaesophagus or recent abdominal surgery (a generalized enlargement of the esophagus).
- consumed poisons, sharp objects, or corrosive substances.
Steps to Take to Make a Dog Throw Up
Always call your veterinarian first. Even if you intend to induce vomiting in your dog at home, your veterinarian is a great resource and can give you the most up-to-date details regarding your dog’s health.
- Giving your dog a tiny meal can increase the likelihood that he will vomit if he hasn’t eaten in the previous two hours.
- Make sure you have a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Higher levels are poisonous and can result in significant harm.
- Administer the recommended dosage as directed: by mouth, 1 teaspoon is recommended for every 5 pounds of the dog’s body weight, with a maximum dose of 3 tablespoons for dogs over 45 pounds. However, only induce vomiting if your dog consumed the item within two hours, and consult your veterinarian about the ideal amount for your dog.
- Utilizing a feeding syringe or turkey baster, dispense the medication by drawing back the patient’s lips and squirting it between his back teeth. Additionally, you can squirt from the front into the canine’s mouth or tongue. Don’t allow your dog breathe the stuff in as this could cause aspiration. Give your dog a second dose if he doesn’t throw up within 15 minutes.
- While your dog throws up, be by his side. Do not allow your dog to re-ingest the substance; instead, collect the vomit for your veterinarian to examine.
- Watch out for side effects and complications include vomiting that lasts longer than 45 minutes, diarrhea, lethargy, bloating, gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or stomach ulcers.
- Contact your veterinarian as soon as you can for a follow-up.
The best course of action is to bring your dog to a vet clinic or emergency room to have vomiting artificially induced because timing is crucial. In some circumstances, further therapy—like intravenous fluids—may be required. If you are unable to induce vomiting in your dog, your veterinarian may administer a stronger prescription to help him vomit up the hydrogen peroxide as well as the drug he swallowed.
Emergency First Aid for Dogs
A sudden injury or illness cannot always be prevented, even by the most diligent pet owner. Receiving emergency medical care for your pet could mean the difference between life and death. To find out more about what to do in an emergency, download this e-book.
What occurs if you provide too much hydrogen peroxide to a dog?
Many people are aware that using hydrogen peroxide to cause vomiting in dogs is possible. Although there are alternatives, utilizing hydrogen peroxide is not without possible drawbacks.
The mechanism by which hydrogen peroxide works is to irritate the stomach, esophagus, and mouth enough to cause vomiting. Ingestion of hydrogen peroxide can have mild adverse effects, such as persistent vomiting or loss of appetite. Until the gut has a chance to heal, the patient is often treated with antacids and stomach protectants.
Rarely, though, do the adverse effects end at a minor irritability. It is possible to develop severe gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach, which can lead to bleeding and ulcers. Although extremely rare, internal bleeding caused by hydrogen peroxide intoxication has caused the death of pets.
An air clot in the blood vessels, known as a gas emboli, is another possible but uncommon adverse effect of ingesting hydrogen peroxide. When hydrogen peroxide interacts with tissue, oxygen is released. This potentially catastrophic consequence results from the extra gas being absorbed by the irritated stomach tissue.
The use of hydrogen peroxide to cause vomiting can be replaced by safer methods. Apomorphine is a drug that veterinarians frequently provide to dogs since it is typically quite successful at causing vomiting. Through an IV, this medicine is administered. As an alternative, a little pill might be positioned for absorption under the lower eyelid. The medication stimulates the brain’s nausea centers, which leads to vomiting rather than inflaming the stomach.
Ideally, you should take your dog to the vet rather than trying to make him vomit at home if he has consumed something poisonous. However, there may be instances in which the potential risks of not making someone vomit outweigh the potential risks of gastrointestinal harm from hydrogen peroxide.
The use of hydrogen peroxide might be preferable than leaving the poison to be absorbed if your pet has consumed something exceedingly dangerous, such as rat poison, and you are unable to quickly get your dog to a veterinary clinic. Knowing how to use hydrogen peroxide correctly is crucial since there may be emergency instances in which it is preferable to use it rather than not vomit at all.
The first thing to understand is that hydrogen peroxide should never be used at a concentration more than 3%. For instance, 10% hydrogen peroxide should never be utilized because it is particularly damaging to the gastrointestinal tract’s lining.
One milliliter of hydrogen peroxide solution per pound of dog is the recommended dosage. For instance, a 20-pound dog would receive 20 milliliters, or about 4 teaspoons, of hydrogen peroxide.
You may administer the hydrogen peroxide one more time if vomiting has not happened after more than 15 minutes have passed since the initial dose. If your dog is not throwing up, stop giving him hydrogen peroxide. This might result in hydrogen peroxide toxicity and overdose. Not all dogs who are fed hydrogen peroxide will vomit.
Inducing vomiting is occasionally not advised, such as when your pet is experiencing seizures or is very lethargic as a result of the toxin he swallowed. The likelihood of these animals inhaling the hydrogen peroxide is very high.
Some things that pets eat make it worse if they vomit them back up. Inducing vomiting after your pet has consumed sharp things runs the danger of getting those objects stuck in the esophagus.
Call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661 for guidance if you believe your pet has consumed something harmful. (Take note that the Pet Poison Helpline charges a fee.)
Vomiting may not even be necessary in some cases if the substance your pet consumed had a mild enough effect or was consumed in tiny enough quantities.
How soon before peroxide makes a dog sick?
If your veterinarian has advised you to try to induce vomiting in your dog, they will provide you with instructions on what to use and how much. Typically, your veterinarian will advise using 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Dr. Jennifer Coates of PetMD advises that the steps listed below can be safely used to induce vomiting in your dog in case of an emergency1. One milliliter (ml) of hydrogen peroxide should be administered for every pound of body weight. One teaspoon is about equal to 5 ml, hence there should be one teaspoon for every pound of body weight. If your dog doesn’t throw up within 15 minutes, you can provide the medication once more.
How long will my dog vomit after giving hydrogen peroxide?
Your dog may vomit for up to 45 minutes after receiving the appropriate dose of hydrogen peroxide. As much as you can, strive to maintain their comfort and calm.
What occurs if a dog doesn’t pass hydrogen peroxide in a poop?
I can still clearly remember how terrified I was five years ago when I looked up to find my beloved Bouvier, Axel, who was 12 at the time, stretching out his neck, giving a gulp, and swallowing the IQube Puzzle Plush squeaky plush ball that he had been sucking on.
I gasped as I stared at him, thinking, “Has he actually just quaffed that thing?” Should I attempt to persuade him to vomit it back up?
One of the scariest times for pet parents is when their pets swallow a hazardous object, whether it be a toy, medication, food item, or whatever. Would you know whether to cause vomiting for your dog if it ate anything harmful?
In Axel’s case, I didn’t even attempt; instead, I rushed him to an urgent care animal hospital, where they made my dog throw up. The ball persisted in his tummy despite their best attempts. He was given the go-ahead for us to bring him home and watch him for any indications of discomfort.
Today, an adolescent Bouvier named Atle lives with my husband and me. Atle is no more likely than the next adolescent dog to eat unsuitable stuff (which is, rather likely! ), but I’ve decided it’s high time I learned how to make my dog spew up in an emergency.
How To Induce Vomiting in Dogs
At BluePearl-Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta, where she spends most of her time in the ICU and ER and handles anywhere between 4 and 10 poisoning cases a week, Dr. Jennifer Pittman is a critical care specialist. Toxicology is just up her alley, and as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, she would appreciate the chance to speak with a pet owner before the owner provokes vomiting.
Additionally, causing vomiting carries some danger of potential side effects, like the possibility of aspirating vomit and developing pneumonia. The risk of making your dog vomit can be weighed against what your dog has consumed by speaking with a veterinarian in advance. Vomiting can usually be prevented if your Chihuahua consumes one Hershey Kiss, for instance. He’ll probably be fine.
On the other hand, does your dog spontaneously vomit without being provoked? It’s possible that if your dog consumes something they shouldn’t, they will throw it up themselves. However, in some cases, such as when they have pancreatitis, gastritis, IBD, Addison’s disease, or liver illness, dogs will vomit because they are ill. Understand the cause of your dog’s vomiting, and avoid attempting to cause it if it has already happened.
% Hydrogen Peroxide Makes Dogs Vomit
Use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a therapy if you need to induce vomiting in your dog. In a perfect scenario, the dog would vomit pretty soon after receiving the treatment because the solution directly irritates the dog’s stomach lining.
How Much Hydrogen Peroxide to Give Your Dog?
One teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, up to a total of three tablespoons, is administered for every five pounds of the dog’s body weight. The maximum dose for dogs weighing more than 45 lbs. is 3 tablespoons each dose because there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon.
Your dog should vomit within two to five minutes of the initial dose, if the H2O2 does its job. It’s okay to give him another dose if he doesn’t throw up in five minutes. then halt. According to Dr. Pittman, you should be on your way to the doctor if your dog doesn’t vomit within 10 minutes. Don’t provide more than the recommended dose. A really huge amount of H2O2 could cause the dog’s stomach to burst!
In the section below, we go over how to make your dog vomit by administering hydrogen peroxide.
When Do You Need to Make Your Dog Throw Up? When is Inducing Vomiting Dangerous for Dogs?
Dr. Pittman says she is hesitant to offer exact instructions for when we must induce vomiting, but she does have some broad recommendations for certain scenarios:
When to Make Your Dog Vomit Immediately:
Induce vomiting right away if you notice your dog consuming antifreeze. Antifreeze is rapidly absorbed through the stomach wall; within 30 minutes or less of consumption, your dog’s body has absorbed enough antifreeze to be damaging to the kidneys. Immediately after that, take your dog to a vet facility.
When You Should Make Your Dog Throw Up:
Making your dog puke is advised if it consumes human medication or a significant amount of another dog’s medication. “That would be a time I’d say to induce vomiting anyway, Dr. Pittman advises.
Circumstances Which It Depends on What Your Dog Swallowed:
Let’s say your dog ingests your daughter’s teddy bear or a golf ball. Vomiting might be a good option depending on how big the thing is compared to your dog, but frequently, the object needs to be removed using an endoscope. In these situations, speak with your vet about the likelihood that, if vomiting was caused, the object would pass back up your dog’s throat.
You Probably Should Not Make Your Dog Vomit If:
Your dog ingests something with a sharp edge or drinks something acidic like bleach or home cleaning. Under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, who can balance the risks and advantages and take prompt action if the plan doesn’t work, vomiting can be induced in certain situations more safely.
Do NOT Make Your Dog Throw Up If:
Do not induce vomiting in your dog if they are drowsy, comatose, or showing symptoms of neurological damage or seizures. When you try to make the dog puke, the dog must appear clinically normal, according to Dr. Pittman. Avoid making him vomit if he isn’t acting normally since aspiration issues are quite likely to occur.
Even while it’s ideal to take action within an hour of intake, in some circumstances, vomiting can be beneficial up to four hours after ingestion. The warning is that before causing vomiting, you should always call a veterinarian or one of the veterinary phone consult toxicology services!
Who to Contact If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic
You might start by contacting a poison control hotline or your neighborhood veterinarian for advice. It’s likely that your veterinarian can provide you with enough guidance if your dog has consumed something quite commonplace (but still possibly deadly) like a box of dark chocolate, a pound of raisins, a big package of xylitol-containing gum, or other potentially toxic food items. You might be better off placing your initial call to an animal poison control hotline if your dog’s preferred poison is something more exotic, such as a combination of grandma’s beta blockers, statins, and anti-anxiety medications.
There are two veterinary-run phone consult toxicology programs that give consultations around-the-clock:
1. The animal poison hotline of the ASPCA is (888) 426-4435. Fee: $65 payable by credit card at the time of the call.
2. The pet poison hotline is (855) 764-7661. Fee: $39 due at the time of the call using a credit card.
When you contact, the consulting veterinarian will ask you for information about your dog’s diet as well as his age, weight, and other relevant details. You will then be given a case number in return. If you do this ahead of time, or even while you’re on the road (if someone else is with you and they’re driving), your veterinarian will be able to phone the service back with your case number and get to work as soon as you get at the clinic.
For two reasons, according to Dr. Pittman, many veterinary clinics themselves will err on the side of caution and contact poison control:
-To look for newer drug formulations and updated information on current toxicities; many drug interactions are not well-known.
-To record the case and create a database of knowledge for handling subsequent cases.
In a perfect environment, Dr. Pittman claims, “you’d contact the service and your neighborhood veterinarian virtually at the same time.
Administering the Hydrogen Peroxide to Your Dog
The best option is a syringe, which allows you to measure the quantity accurately and dispense it directly into the dog’s mouth.
Keep an unopened bottle of peroxide (so that it is unoxidized and fizzy-fresh if needed) and secure a syringe to the container with a rubber band so you have everything you need in an emergency if your dog has a tendency to eat strange things.
Dr. Pittman also recommends soaking a slice of bread in the prescribed amount of hydrogen peroxide before feeding it to the dog right away.
If your dog doesn’t produce, don’t get upset “Unfortunately, attempts to cause vomiting at home typically are not as successful as we would want. Dr. Pittman advises not to get discouraged if it doesn’t work and to remember that you’re not the only one.
If the induction “Whether it does or not, your next step should be to rush to the nearest veterinary emergency clinic or your dog’s regular doctor.
If you are able to induce vomiting in your dog, it is advisable to clean up the mess and take the vomitus with you to the vet’s office.”
According to Dr. Pittman, that is arguably the least admirable aspect of the entire procedure. “We need to look through that mess and try to find those four tablets if you’re concerned that your dog may have swallowed four medicines.
Save the Vomit for the Vet?
No and yes. Dr. Pittman states, “Absolutely, we’re pleased to analyze what came up. But even possessing the vomit won’t explain every mystery. We won’t detect those drugs, though, because some of them, like gel caps or fast release formulae, dissolve as soon as they enter the stomach. But according to Dr. Pittman, if pieces of the tablets are discovered, it might significantly affect the following step: “The difference in the pills still being there vs their not being, may equal three days of hospitalization.”
