How to Induce Vomiting in Dogs

There are dogs that are very fussy about what they eat. Then there are dogs that eat everything that they can get their paws on. Either one is likely to occasionally eat something they shouldn't. It could be something that makes no sense, like a bag of cat litter, or something they love but that just isn't good for them, like chocolate. If your dog has eaten something bad, don't panic. Follow the steps in this guide and he will feel better in no time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Burnt toast
• Hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent
• Eye dropper or medicine syringe

1. Call [phone]. This is the number for the Animal Poison Control Center. Animal health specialists will help you determine whether or not inducing vomiting will help your dog. Alternatively, call your veterinarian.

2. Identify the material the dog has ingested. Generally, inducing vomiting will be recommended if the dog has eaten toxic plants, toxic foods, medications or anti-freeze, within the last two hours and is still conscious, has not had seizures and is breathing easily. It will buy you enough time to get safely to the vet while reducing the quantity of toxic material working its way through your dog's system.

3. Feed the dog a piece of burnt toast. It is will help to absorb the toxins and make the induction process easier by putting fresh food in the stomach. If the dog seems reluctant to eat the toast, spread some peanut butter on it.

4. Wait five minutes. Make a rough estimate of your dog's weight. For every 10 lbs. of body weight, give the dog 1 tsp. of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. If the dog seems reluctant to take the peroxide, use an eyedropper or syringe and place the fluid on the back of the tongue, then tilt the dog's head upward slightly and stroke the throat to encourage swallowing.

5. Wait 10 minutes. Encourage the dog to walk around or gently agitate the dog's stomach to combine the peroxide and the contents of the stomach. If the procedure was unsuccessful, repeat Step 4. If no vomiting occurs 10 minutes after the second dose, the dog may need a stronger inducer.

6. Take the dog to the veterinarian's office. Even if the procedure was successful, inducing vomiting only removes about half of the toxins. The dog may still need professional care, depending on the type and quantity of toxic material originally ingested.

Tips & Warnings

• Squirting the peroxide towards the back of the mouth in a constant stream can encourage the dog to swallow it, but it can be difficult to determine how much medication has been given, so estimate on the high side. One good swallow will probably do the trick.
• Never induce vomiting in a dog in an effort to retrieve a swallowed object. Never induce vomiting in a dog that has ingested corrosive or acidic substances, such as household bleach or drain cleaner. Inducing will inflict additional damage on the lining of the digestive tract and can cause the dog's condition to deteriorate rapidly. Never induce vomiting in a dog if has been more than two hours since the toxic material was ingested. If the dog shows signs of lethargy or seizures, stop what you are doing and go directly to the veterinarian's office. Try to keep the dog awake while your drive.

Resources

• More about dog health

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