Inducing vomiting in a dog is a method used to expel dangerous substances from its system. Different breeds of dogs tend to eat practically everything they come across, unaware of the possible dangers. Ingesting these materials can lead to sickness and may cause extended periods of vomiting in the dog.
These products include insecticides, fertilizers, pesticides, pet medication, human medication, weed killers, and more. They also include toxic foods like chocolate and grapes and poisonous plants. Inducing vomiting is what most dog owners would do.
Always keep in mind to discuss this with your dog’s veterinarian since they provide specific instructions on how to induce vomiting. It’s never an easy job to make your dog vomit, so read below to learn how to make your dog vomit the right way. Read more below on how to make a dog throw up.
When To Make A Dog Throw Up
Medical teams advise that you should learn how to make a dog throw up when the substance they ingested or swallowed contains poisonous elements or the food source ingested is considered prohibited. For example, if your dog ate grapes a few hours ago, this is looked at as pet poison. You can also call the animal poison control center or the pet poison helpline for assistance in making your dog throw up safely.
Dog owners may also do this if their dog is not showing signs and symptoms of being poisoned or is known to be asymptomatic. Then, if your pet took in antifreeze in the last two hours, you should induce vomiting. You may also do this if the dog is generally healthy and not at risk of inhaling vomit into his respiratory system.
In other words, making inducing vomiting a habit is a must. This includes not having any medical issues such as a failing trachea, laryngeal paralysis, abnormal airways, and more. Inducing vomiting is something you need to be careful with if you are trying to learn how to make a dog throw up the right way.
If your dog does not fall under the brachycephalic breeds (generally has a smooshed face), then it is recommended to make the dog throw up. Brachycephalic dog breeds include pugs, Pekingese, French bulldogs, Shih-Tzus, and more.
Use around three percent hydrogen peroxide since this is so far the only safe and recommended household product to help induce vomiting among these animals. It’s not easy to make a dog vomit, especially depending on their body weight and size.
When Not Make Your Dog Throw Up
For obvious reasons, if your dog is already throwing up from pet poison or something else, do not induce vomiting any further. Scientifically, this will cause a worsened vomit-on response or too much of the small elements in the intestines coming out. You only want to induce vomiting if you are sure it’s what is needed.
If there are any signs of them turning very weak, having trouble standing up, or even losing consciousness, then it’s also a sign that you should bring them to see a veterinarian. Since there is a possibility that your pet dog might inhale vomit into its lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia.
Additionally, do not induce vomiting if your dog has ingested the following:
- Corrosive chemicals
- Caustic substance
- Hydrocarbons
- Petroleum distillates
Hydrocarbons and petroleum distillates include kerosene, motor oil, gasoline, etc. If these oils are accidentally inhaled into the lungs while vomiting, they may cause severe aspiration pneumonia.
Corrosive chemicals include lime removal products, drain cleaners, batteries, and oven cleaners. These, on the other hand, cause more damage to their esophagus if you further induce vomiting. Cleaning products like bleach and drain cleaners cause burning when ingested and more secondary burns. Thus, you should refrain from inducing vomiting any further.
Medical experts also suggest that if it has already been more than two hours since the pet dog ingested these harmful substances, even if you induce vomiting, you cannot clear the dog’s stomach of these substances.
Rather, it becomes a double-whammy. It is never recommended to encourage vomiting if your dog has these chemicals taking over their bodies. This is why it’s important to learn the correct steps in how to make a dog throw up the right way.
Tips On How To Induce Vomiting In Dogs
One of the most common ways to make dogs vomit is to place a teaspoonful of salt on the back of the dog’s tongue or use ipecac syrup. However, this is not always the best way to do it.
While inducing vomiting in dogs yourself, it is essential to take note not to use salt or syrup of ipecac to make your dog throw up. Syrup of ipecac was a good source before, but the latest research found that it can linger in their stomachs and cause irritation.
Too much salt, on the other hand, can also cause harm to your pets depending on their body weight. Learning how to make a dog throw up can be a challenge when inducing, so read below to learn more.
- Feed them a small meal. This allows easier induction of vomiting for your pet afterward. Recommended food sources include canned food or certain human foods, like a plain bread slice.
- Move them. If your pet is on the bed or lying on the carpet, be sure that you can transfer them to another area that is easy to clean up the dog vomit – like spaces with a linoleum floor, before anything else.
- Walk the dog. Before making your dog throw up, take your dog outside for a walk, especially after using hydrogen peroxide. Spend a few minutes, or if walking isn’t possible, you may either move or shake its belly area a little. This sometimes can help make your dog throw up and give your dog a chance to do it alone.
- Visit the vet clinic. Since making a dog vomit is considered a preventive measure, nothing could be more accurate than veterinary hospital care advice. Once you’re in the clinic, talk about the emergency and the induced vomiting procedure – if you have given them hydrogen peroxide, the amount you had given them, and the aftermath of it so they can find the best way to treat the dog.
Compared to dog owners, veterinarians have access to a line of medications or even some human medications designed to induce throwing up and absorption of toxins precisely.
They may prescribe activated charcoal, which works to combine with the poison ingested and avoid further intake, and they could diagnose if further treatment is required. They also have the right rubber gloves to wear when the use of IV fluids is needed when making your dog throw up.
Why Hydrogen Peroxide?
3 Hydrogen peroxide, with the chemical formula H2O2, is a chemical compound that has water and hydrogen. Physically, it is a clear substance that is mostly used as an antiseptic for various purposes. Three percent of it is for household use, around 10 percent for hair bleaching, 35 percent for food grade, and approximately 90 percent for industrial.
Inducing dogs to throw up has countless benefits. The compound is generally considered safe to use for dogs who have ingested poisonous chemicals. You have to take note that a precise dosage is recommended for proper treatment. Once you know the dosage, you can put it in a turkey baster and squirt it into the dog’s mouth.
It is an emetic or a substance that can effectively induce vomiting. However, hydrogen peroxide emesis is only recommended if your pet dog has ingested corrosive substances like chocolate, xylitol, or rat poison. If your dogs are disoriented visually, avoid using this because they might inhale it.
How Much Hydrogen Peroxide Should I Give My Dog?
Dog owners should give their dogs the three percent formulation of hydrogen peroxide from the pharmacy. Avoid using the concentrated variant, which is generally stronger and used in hair color.
The rule of thumb is to use 1 teaspoon or five milliliters of hydrogen peroxide per 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight. If the dog does not vomit, repeat the process within 10 minutes. This will hopefully help against inducing vomiting and give your dog the option to do it themselves.
Make them ingest the 3 hydrogen peroxides orally; perhaps you can blend them with vanilla-flavored ice cream to balance out the taste. Fun fact: ice cream also has hidden hydrogen peroxide in its sugary ingredients. Or, you can mix the compound with honey.
What Happens After I Administer Hydrogen Peroxide In My Dog?
After administering hydrogen peroxide to your dog, it will work as an irritant for the dog’s intestinal tracts, inducing vomiting of elements in their stomach within 15 minutes after first use. Watch out for the need to give a second dose if there’s no vomiting. Wait for another 15 minutes and give the third dose.
Make sure you give the right amount, as higher concentrations are toxic to dogs and can cause more damage.
Afterward, make sure to call the veterinarian in case you missed something when learning how to make a dog throw up the right way. As pet parents, you must also walk your dogs after giving them hydrogen peroxide.
What To Do During and After My Dog Vomits
If your dog naturally vomits, this may be an excellent sign because their body can differentiate the harmful elements they intake naturally and can release the chemicals they have ingested without any external aid.
However, you must examine the substance they have thrown out to see if the vomit contains food, mostly mucus or bile, or if the vomit contains water, foam, or blood. There are instances when you can find inedible entities like pieces of toys and fabric since they can roam around places if not under your supervision.
Keep these, especially the inedible ones, since your veterinarian can use them to diagnose during the treatment. Take down notes and record your observations each time your dog vomits or each time you induce vomiting. If you see signs of diarrhea and other health problems, take note of these too, especially if they swallowed something.
After making your dog vomit, withdraw the food for now and let him or her rest. If he usually acts, keep the meal going, but after around six to 12 hours. Check if there are signs of shock in your pet dogs, including weakness, collapse, or pale skin and gums. Let them lie down and place a blanket over them.
You must also be able to clean the dog fur with the vomit leftovers and dirt with a warm, wet cloth. Retching is a sign that will trigger another vomiting. Call your veterinarian, determine the causes of vomiting, and watch out for emergencies.
How To Identify The Types Of Dog Vomit By Color
- Yellow vomit. This color indicates your pet dog’s empty stomach. The color comes from bile, or the fluid the liver produces during digestion. It goes through the gallbladder and is released via the small intestine.
- Black or dark brown vomit. This vomit color may indicate internal bleeding, bleeding ulcers, and intestinal blockage (abdominal pain, weakness, trouble defecating, appetite loss, and bloating).
- White foam. Vomiting white foam indicates an upset stomach, pancreatitis, kidney problems, Kennel cough, acid reflux, and parvo, which is a viral infection.
Informing Your Veterinarian
Although it’s ideal to induce vomiting only in the presence of your veterinarian, it is also impossible to do this all the time considering the doctor’s schedule and the frequency of the vomiting.
Take note of life-threatening situations during or after vomiting, and call your veterinarian or the pet poison helpline to inform them of signs of bloating, dehydration, and retching. When you call, be sure to provide important information about the condition of your dog.
Should I Keep My Dog’s Vomit?
Keeping your dog’s vomit varies depending on the situation given. If the vomit contains inedible materials such as toys and pieces of fabric, keep them as your veterinarian can use them for diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise, pet parents should throw the vomit away.
Emergency First Aid For Dogs
Aside from hydrogen peroxide, there are precautionary treatments you can do while waiting for veterinary care.
- Remove food and water temporarily for around 12 to 24 hours.
- If the vomit is frequent and/or contains blood, contact your veterinarian or go to an emergency clinic.
- After an estimated 12 to 24 hours without vomiting, gradually let them drink water, but in minimal portions, one to two ounces at a time. If no further vomiting occurs, introduce a diet of boiled skinless chicken with rice. If vomiting happens, wait for two days before returning to a regular diet. During these times, mix between the bland portions and proper food.
- Veterinarians would usually recommend Pepto-Bismol and coordinate with the vet for the recommended dosage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a dog to throw up?
A dog throws up because they want to expel something they shouldn’t have had in their stomachs. In other cases, vomiting can also signal a serious health condition. These include gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver illness, diabetes mellitus, and more.
Can hydrogen peroxide hurt a dog?
No, dog hydrogen peroxide cannot hurt a dog if it is given in an appropriate amount. Remember to maintain the compound at 3 hydrogen peroxide, since large amounts can still upset their stomach. You may need to use a turkey baster to help give your dog a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.
How long will my dog vomit after the hydrogen peroxide?
Your dog should vomit within 15 minutes after taking hydrogen peroxide.
What can I give my dog to settle his stomach?
You can give your dog the following to settle their stomach:
- Bone broth
- Canned pumpkin
- Ice cubes
- Unsweetened yogurt mixed with food
- Sweet potatoes
- Bananas
- Oatmeal
Conclusion
The partnership between you as the pet owner and your dog’s veterinarian is what arises as the most crucial factor in how to make your dog throw up. Vomiting is such a natural body process that should be guided with the right compounds, since too much may also be bad for their health
At the end of the day, you are trying to learn how to make a dog throw up, and what you are trying to fix is having them let go of the harmful substances they have accidentally ingested. This way, you can induce vomiting in dogs safely.
The most crucial precautionary measure you can take is to always monitor them, what spaces they stay in, which places they visit, and what food they eat. This will help you decide if you need to induce vomiting or if you need to learn another way to make your dog throw up.
