How to Induce Vomiting for Poison

Don't induce vomiting if your dog ingests motor oil or gasoline.

Many things, even human-safe foods like chocolate, are poisonous to dogs. Inducing vomiting can save your dog's life, or make the situation worse. It's critical to ascertain what your dog has eaten and to call your veterinarian, veterinary emergency clinic or poison control center immediately. Generally, it's advisable to induce vomiting if your dog has ingested pesticides containing arsenic, carbamates, metaldehyde or organophosphates, or drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, antihistamines, sleeping pills, diet pills and heart preparations, street drugs, vitamins, crayons, pine oil, acetone, bait, alcohol, antifreeze, and products containing lead, phenol, strychnine, vitamin D3, warfarin, as well as most, but not all, house and garden plants.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Water
• Measuring cup
• 2 bowls
• Tablespoon
• Syringe
• Teaspoon
• Syrup of ipecac
• Salt
• Apomorphine tablet

Instructions

Hydrogen Peroxide

1. Mix 1/2 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup of water in a bowl, stirring well with a spoon.

2. Calculate your dog's dosage. One tablespoon per 10 pounds of your dog's bodyweight induces vomiting, according to the eDogAdvice.com website.

3. Use a spoon or syringe (without the needle) to administer the mixture. If more than one spoonful is needed, place it into another smaller container for easy measurement and suction with a syringe.

4. Pull your dog's lip away from the side of his mouth. Slowly and carefully deposit the mixture into the pocket formed between his cheek and teeth. Don't deposit the liquid straight into his mouth, as he may inhale it into his lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia.

5. Repeat this procedure every 10 minutes, up to three times, if your dog has not yet vomited.

Syrup of Ipecac

1. Measure one teaspoonful of syrup of ipecac per 10 pounds of your dog's body weight, according to DoctorDog.com.

2. Pull your dog's lip away from the side of his mouth.

3. Administer the syrup with a spoon or syringe, depositing it into the pocket formed between his cheek and teeth.

Salt

1. Measure 1/2 to 1 teaspoonful of salt, according to DoctorDog.com, roughly judging the amount to give by the size of your dog. The lower dose is for small dogs while the full teaspoon is usually adequate for large dogs.

2. Open your dog's mouth. If he hesitates, jam your finger into the side of his mouth, between his teeth, and his mouth should open.

3. Deposit the salt, using a spoon, onto the back of his tongue.

Apomorphine Tablet

1. Hold your dog's head steady, gently but firmly.

2. Pull his lower eyelid down gently, pulling it away from his eye as far as you can without causing discomfort.

3. Place an apomorphine tablet under your dog's lower eyelid and, if you can, hold it in place with gentle pressure on his eye until the tablet is at least partially absorbed. According to the Eden Consulting Group website, apomorphine works faster and more efficiently to induce vomiting than hydrogen peroxide or other agents.

Tips & Warnings

• Store vomiting agents and supplies in a safe and handy place should your dog need them. Pack them in your dog's emergency kit when traveling with him.

• Never induce vomiting until you're sure it's safe to do so. Always contact your veterinarian, a veterinary emergency clinic or poison control center first.

References

• Dog Owner's Guide: Intestinal Upsets: Poisoning: Inducing Vomiting
• DoctorDog.com: Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook: Vomiting, How to Induce
• DoctorDog.com: Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook: Poisoning
• Eden Consulting Group: Poisoning Issues: Excerpt From "K9 Officer's Manual"
• eDogAdvice.com: How to Act With Dog Poison Symptoms?