Making a Dog Throw Up: Safely and Effectively

Some dogs are known to eat anything they can get their paws on. Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and this can increase their risk of accidently consuming something toxic. So if your dog does happen to eat something dangerous, is it safe to make them vomit at home?

It is possible to make your dog vomit at home, but there are a few safety guidelines you need to be aware of in order to prevent serious health complications. In this article we will discuss how to induce vomiting in your dog, when making your dog vomit can cause more harm, and when it’s time to skip the vomiting and take your pup straight to the vet.

Let’s get started!

When To Make Your Dog Vomit At Home

A dog eating something they shouldn’t have is one of the most common medical emergencies seen in vet offices. These curious furry friends don’t understand that many items around our home can threaten their health, ranging from certain human foods to items that cannot be digested.

When our dogs eat something that could cause them harm, forcing them to throw up the dangerous item is often necessary. Throwing up the harmful item can prevent it from moving past the stomach and further into the digestive tract, or it can prevent a toxic substance from being fully absorbed by the body. Inducing vomiting in dogs can be an effective treatment method if it is done soon after the item or substance is consumed.

Some of the most common items that dogs have to vomit up include:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Products containing xylitol
• Onions
• Human medications
• Excessive amounts of their own medication
• Rat poison
• Fabric such as pieces of toys, underwear, and socks

Causing your dog to vomit can be effective if your dog ate any of the above items within the last 2 hours. However, if you are unsure about the time in which they consumed it, vomiting may not be effective if the item is no longer in the stomach.

When NOT To Make Your Dog Vomit At Home

There are certain scenarios in which causing your dog to vomit at home can actually cause them more harm. There are some substances and items that can cause serious damage to the esophagus when they are vomited up. Some of these dangerous items include batteries, caustic substances, oil based liquids, and sharp objects. This is why we always suggest getting your vet’s permission before making your dog vomit at home, as they can let you know if the item your dog ate can cause any trauma in the vomiting process.

“Caustic substances like cleaning supplies and battery acid can burn the esophagus during emesis. If you think your dog may have consumed something caustic, then it is essential to bring them to your vet’s office for skilled care. Your veterinarian will determine a safe plan of action that will prevent further trauma to their digestive tract.” – Dr. Amy Nicole Lewis, BVSc MRCVS

We also do not suggest inducing vomiting at home if it has been longer than 2 hours since the item was ingested, or if your dog is already displaying symptoms of a toxicity. Causing your dog to vomit will not help their condition at this point, so it is best to bring them straight to a vet for medical care.

How Do I Make My Dog Vomit At Home? Step By Step.

We should state again that you should always get permission from your vet before making your dog vomit at home. Your vet team can offer you skilled guidance based on your dog’s current situation.

Once you get approval from your vet, here are the steps to follow for making your dog vomit at home.

• Make sure you have a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Any higher than 3% can be dangerous for this situation. Do not use anything else to make your dog vomit.
• The standard dose of hydrogen peroxide to make your dog vomit is one teaspoon for every five pounds of body weight, with the maximum dose being three tablespoons (only for dogs 40 pounds and over).
• Draw up your dog’s dose in a syringe, as this will allow you to have more control.
• Administer the hydrogen peroxide to your dog by mouth, making sure to give it slowly to prevent them from aspirating.
• Most dogs vomit within 8-15 minutes of their dose of hydrogen peroxide.
• Always stay with your dog until they vomit. If your pup does not vomit within 15 minutes, you can give them a second dose, but you cannot give them a third dose.
• Try to catch the vomit when it comes out so you can make sure they vomited up the item in question.
• Keep in mind that not all dogs will vomit with hydrogen peroxide, so if your dog has not vomited after two doses, then it’s time to take them to the vet.

We suggest keeping all food and water away from your dog for the next six hours after they vomit, as they may have some residual GI upset. If they do not vomit for six hours, then food and water can return as usual.

The Risks Of Making Your Dog Vomit At Home

There are always risks associated with making your dog vomit at home. Some of the most common risks include:

Aspiration: Some dogs have accidently aspirated the hydrogen peroxide as their owners administered it, which is why it is so important to give it slowly. Aspirating hydrogen peroxide or vomit can lead to respiratory and lung complications.

Choking: Choking is a possibility if you are trying to make your dog vomit up an object that can become lodged in their throat. This can happen with pieces of toys, socks, underwear, and anything else that cannot be digested. Choking is a life threatening emergency.

Esophagus injury: Esophagus injury can occur when inducing vomiting in a dog that ate something sharp or caustic. These situations should always be handled at your vet’s office.

Wasting time: You always run the risk of wasting precious time when making your dog vomit at home. Not all dogs will respond to the hydrogen peroxide, so you may be forced to take your dog to the vet anyways. Delayed care can be risky when your pup eats something dangerous.

The Safest Way To Make Your Dog Vomit

Inducing vomiting at home can be great in a pinch, but there will always be risks associated. The safest way to make your dog vomit is by taking them to your vet’s office to have the procedure performed by your veterinary team. Instead of administering hydrogen peroxide by mouth, your vet can administer an injectable medication that will make your dog vomit immediately. The most common medication used for emesis in dogs is called Apomorphine.

Inducing vomiting at your vet’s office will ensure that your pup is in good hands if anything goes wrong. For example, if your dog ate a sock and they begin to choke on the sock when they are vomiting it up, your vet team can jump into action and save the day.

Your vet can also administer nausea medication after the injection to prevent your pup from feeling sick hours later. Taking your dog to the vet to induce vomiting is the safest option all around.

Final Thoughts

Making your dog vomit at home can be useful if your little one gets into something that can make them sick. Be sure to review the information we discussed above, and you can better understand how to safely induce vomiting in your dog!

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