How to Make a Dog Vomit After Ingesting a Hazardous Object

If you suspect that your dog has eaten something that he shouldn’t have, the best way to help him is to make him vomit. Dogs that exhibit behaviors such as eating rocks, socks, and other hazardous objects can have a hard time passing the foreign bodies through their stool. Inducing vomiting may not sound pleasant, but it can save you and your dog an unnecessary trip to the vet for problems that may become worse as the objects pass through his system. The ingestion of substances that your dog may have gotten into can be toxic, and immediate vomiting is suggested. Ordinary table salt can help with the vomiting process, and offer you peace of mind that he has vomited up a hazardous object.

Things You'll Need

• Table salt
• Teaspoon

Instructions

1. Fill a teaspoon with ordinary table salt to induce vomiting. The chemicals in the salt irritate the digestive tract, causing the body to react by vomiting. Contents that have entered the stomach or the digestive tract prior to ingesting salt will be expelled through the vomiting process.

2. Hold your dog’s mouth open wide, and drop the salt onto the back of his tongue closest to the throat area. If you are not able to do this on your own, ask a friend to assist you in holding your dog’s mouth open.

3. Remove the spoon, and allow your dog to swallow the salt. Hold his mouth closed for a few moments to ensure that he is indeed swallowing the salt and not spitting it out. Release his mouth when you are confident that he has fully ingested the salt.

4. Lead your dog to an area that will not be affected by his vomiting. Signs of impending vomiting will begin shortly after swallowing the salt, so try to move quickly. If you would prefer that he vomits outdoors, take him outside immediately following the salt ingestion.

5. Wait several minutes for your dog to begin vomiting. This should begin within three to five minutes of offering him the salt. In some cases it can take as much as ten to fifteen minutes, but not much longer. Stay with him to see that he does vomit, and remove the object that he has vomited up immediately. If you do not remove the object as soon as possible, he may try to eat it again.

Tips & Warnings

• Household hydrogen peroxide can also be used to induce vomiting. It can be offered in the same way as the salt. Placed on a teaspoon, and poured onto the back of the tongue.

• Providing your dog with plenty of mental stimulation, activity, and chew toys can help in the prevention of pica behaviors.

• Do not perform this process more than once; too much salt can be toxic in itself. If your dog does not vomit, and you feel that his health is in danger due to what he has ingested, seek a veterinarian’s advice immediately.

• Monitor your dog’s behavior and physical well being to make sure there are no lasting effects of what he has improperly eaten. If he shows signs of poisoning, or injury, contact your veterinarian immediately.

• If you suspect that your dog has eaten something corrosive or sharp, refrain from trying to make him vomit. Sharp objects coming back up can cause further damage, and corrosive materials can burn the gastrointestinal tract if brought back up through vomiting. Seek veterinary advice at once if this is the case.

Resources

• For more information on pica behaviors and their solutions go to: