Making Your Dog Vomit: When to Do It and When NOT to

One of the scariest things is knowing or suspecting that your beloved dog has consumed something harmful.

Likely, your first thought is, “Should I make them throw up?”

While induction of vomiting is sometimes part of the treatment protocol for some harmful ingestions, it isn’t always the best and safest option in all cases.

Additionally, just because your dog vomited, it doesn’t mean they are out of the woods.

While making your dog throw up is sometimes helpful, in many cases it's NOT.

What to Do FIRST, If Your Dog Has Eaten Something Dangerous

The very first thing you need to do if you know or suspect your dog has consumed something harmful, whether it is a foreign body or a toxic substance, is to immediately contact an emergency veterinarian, especially if your regular veterinarian isn't open.

Contact the Pet Poison Helpline or ASPCA Poison Control if it is a toxin. A fee for the call will apply.

Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435

They will help guide you on the right course of treatment. If they recommend making your dog vomit, they will give you instructions.

Be sure to inform them if your dog is showing any symptoms of toxicity such as:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Elevated heart rate
• Excessive salivation
• Lethargy, sluggishness
• Hyperactivity
• Swelling anywhere on the face or body
• Skin irritation or inflammation
• Abnormal urination
• Abnormal body temperature
• Seizures
  
  

When Inducing Vomiting in Dogs Is Dangerous

It may seem counterintuitive not to induce vomiting anytime your dog consumes something harmful. But in some cases, more damage or harm can be caused by making them throw up than the harmful item itself.

Do not induce vomiting if any of the following circumstances exist:

• If your dog is significantly lethargic, unconscious, seizing, has breathing issues, has decreased ability to swallow, or has had recent surgery

• If your dog is a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed since it can cause aspiration pneumonia

• Ingestion of caustic chemicals such as drain and toilet bowl cleaners

• Ingestion of sharp objects

• Ingestion of batteries

• Ingestion of drugs

• Ingestion of hydrocarbons such as gas or kerosene

• Ingestion of zinc or aluminum phosphides such as in mole or gopher baits

• If the ingestion was more than 2 to 6 hours ago
  
  

Issues That Can Happen If You Make Your Dog Vomit

Consulting a vet prior to inducing vomiting is important because it is possible what they consumed or the amount they consumed isn’t even toxic. In these cases, if you induce vomiting, you could cause more harm than good.

If you induce vomiting in your dog, especially when it is not needed, one or more of the following issues can occur:

• Aspiration pneumonia
• Esophageal ulcers, lesions, or trauma (tears or blockages)
• Damage to the mouth (burns, ulcers, or trauma)
• Release of harmful gases which can damage both the lungs of pets and people who breath them
• Using an inappropriate product to induce poisoning can make a bad situation even worse, if not deadly
• You could get bitten

Read below why a veterinarian should do this procedure.

When and How to Induce Vomiting in Dogs at Home

Induction of vomiting should only be done under the guidance of a veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline/ASPCA Poison Control.

To receive the best guidance possible from these sources, provide them with as much information as possible. This includes:

• Your dog’s age, weight, and health status
• Any medications your dog regularly receives
• What your dog ate
• When they ate the harmful substance as well as any food and water
• How much they consumed
  
  

How to Make Your Dog Throw Up: Do It When There Are NO Other Options

You should only attempt to induce vomiting at home when there are no options for getting your dog to a veterinary facility, none of the abovementioned negative factors exist, AND ONLY under the guidance of a veterinarian or pet poison control.

At home, the generally ‘safest’ recommended method to induce vomiting in dogs is 3% hydrogen peroxide. But be aware, it can also have serious side effects.

NOTE: DO NOT Use concentrations higher than 3% as they are toxic and can cause serious harm. Make sure the hydrogen peroxide is NOT food grade. Never use hydrogen peroxide for cats.

Hydrogen peroxide 3% works by causing intestinal tract irritation. It typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes to work but on average most dogs only vomit about half their stomach contents. Dogs generally continue to vomit for up to 45 minutes.

General guidelines for the induction of vomiting with hydrogen peroxide 3%:

1. Should only be tried within 2 to 3 hours of ingestion of the toxic substance. Beyond that time frame, the induction of vomiting is useless.

2. Prior to administering the hydrogen peroxide 3%, give a moist meal to encourage vomiting, if they will eat
   
   
3. Administer in a place that is quiet, and your dog feels safe and comfortable
   
   
4. Administer in a place for easy clean-up
   
   

5. Consult with your veterinarian about the safest dosage of hydrogen peroxide 3% for your dog.

   The typical dosage of hydrogen peroxide 3% to induce vomiting in dogs is 1 teaspoon or 5 ml per 5 pounds body weight by mouth. For dogs weighing more than 45 pounds, DO NOT exceed 3 tablespoons or 45 ml.

   Administration can be done with an oral syringe or turkey baster.

   Be sure to squirt the hydrogen peroxide 3% from the side of their mouth and between their back teeth. DO NOT squirt it directly at their throat as this could result in choking and aspiration.

6. If your dog refuses to take it via a syringe, try mixing it with equal portions of milk or ice cream

7. Following administration, encourage your dog to walk or move around

8. NEVER leave your dog alone once you administer the hydrogen peroxide 3%

9. Monitor your dog for any adverse reactions following administration

   • Continued vomiting longer than 45 minutes

   • Diarrhea

   • Changes in behavior

   • Lethargy

   • Signs of bloat or gastric dilatation volvulus

10. Repeat dose in 10 to 15 minutes if no vomiting

11. Collect some of the vomit for your veterinarian to evaluate

12. Seek veterinary care as soon as possible

DO NOT:

• Do not give more than 2 doses

• Do not use expired hydrogen peroxide

• Do not administer it to your dog where they sleep or eat

• Do not let your dog eat anything they vomited up
  
  

If you have activated charcoal or carbon in your pet’s first aid kit, consult with your veterinarian if you should or should not administer it, and if you so, when.

What At-Home Remedies Are Dangerous for Making Your Dog Vomit

As mentioned, inducing vomiting in dogs at home can potentially cause more harm than good. But it can be even more dangerous when one of the following at-home remedies is used.

NEVER use any of the following methods or remedies to induce vomiting in your dog since they can cause further harm to them:

• Ipecac: This product is significantly unsafe and can cause serious medical issues such as difficulty breathing and heart abnormalities.

• Gagging your pet: Humans and dogs don’t have the same gag reflex. Trying to gag your pet can cause serious trauma to their throat and you are likely to get bitten.

• Salt: High levels in your dog’s blood can lead to serious complications such as tremors, seizures, coma, or death if left untreated.

• Olive oil: If inhaled when they vomit, can lead to aspiration pneumonia. Consumption can potentially cause pancreatitis and greasy stools.

• Mustard and milk: They just don’t work and attempting to use them wastes valuable time.

Why It Is Best For a Veterinarian to Induce Vomiting in Dogs

A veterinarian is needed to determine if induction of vomiting is an essential and safe part of the treatment protocol. If it is, they are trained to do it in the safest and most effective manner to minimize risks and complications.

Veterinarians have the necessary emetic medications that cause vomiting, both intravenously as well as via an ocular route (through their eye), that can most effectively and safely induce vomiting with minimal side effects.

At a veterinary hospital, complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, adverse reactions, or other complications can be handled promptly since they are equipped and staffed to manage such instances.

My hope is that you never need to induce vomiting in your dog at home. But if you do, please be sure to follow all the recommended guidelines and seek veterinarian care as soon as possible as other supportive treatments and care may be essential for your dog to fully recover.