Dogs are curious creatures, so they have an uncanny inkling to digest things that aren’t food. If your furry pal just did that, you should know how to make a dog throw up to prevent further health issues and complications. So, let’s learn more:
- Has Your Dog Ingested Something Life-Threatening? — Time to Throw Up
- Throwing up Isn’t Always the Solution — When to Call Your Vet
- Never Make a Dog Prone to Aspiration Pneumonia Vomit
- How to Make a Dog Throw Up
Has Your Dog Ingested Something Life-Threatening? — Time to Throw Up
Knowing how to induce vomiting in a dog can come in handy if your furry pal ingests something harmful. It can prevent further damage to your dog’s health and potentially save its life.
Remember that not everything should be vomited. Some ingested objects can cause additional harm if your pet throws them back up. Always call and check with your licensed veterinarian before taking any actions.
Speak to Your Vet First for Approval
Before you force a dog to throw up, you should always call your licensed veterinarian. Even if you feel confident about the procedure, swallowing foreign objects can lead to multiple complications. You wouldn’t want to make things worse.
Your vet will provide the necessary advice to resolve the situation as best as possible without causing additional harm to your dog. That’s why you should always call before acting on your own.
When You Should Do It
What can you give a dog for throwing up? In most cases, apomorphine and hydrogen peroxide are the emetics of choice for dogs. They’re the most effective options to make your pet throw up.
If your dog has swallowed food like grapes or chocolate or some unwanted medication, it should throw up to clear the toxins from its body. The list of foods dogs can’t eat is long, but these are the most harmful substances you should know about:
- Human medication
- Other dog’s medication
- Chocolate
- Grapes or raisins
- Animal poison
- Snail bait
- Antifreeze
- Garden chemicals
If you keep such substances at home, store them away from your beloved pet to avoid any incidents.
Throwing up Isn’t Always the Solution — When to Call Your Vet
Now that you know how to make a dog throw up, you also need to learn when you shouldn’t do it. It might be the wrong approach, and it all depends on what your dog has consumed.
Some items can cause more damage coming back up than staying in. That’s why it’s crucial to contact your veterinarian if you suspect that your furry pal has swallowed something that might potentially harm it.
Caustic materials — Bleach, Batteries, Drain-O
Corrosive and caustic chemicals, like bleach, batteries, or laundry detergents, can create serious complications if you make your dog throw up. They can cause blockages or perforations, harming your pet even more. You should also pay attention to your dog’s upset stomach symptoms. These include fatigue, depression, and loss of appetite.
Sharp Materials — Plastic, Glass
Plastic, glass, or any other sharp and pointy objects can be a choking hazard and tear your dog’s esophagus on the way up. That’s why you should be careful when choosing toys for your pet. It’s best to opt for truly indestructible dog toys made from natural rubber to avoid accidents.
Oils — Kerosene, Gasoline, Cooking Oils
You should never induce dog vomiting if your furry friend has swallowed gasoline, cooking oil, or kerosene. These are some of the most harmful hydrocarbons and vomiting them can lead to aspiration pneumonia (when vomit is inhaled into the lungs). Call your vet immediately if this occurs.
Never Make a Dog Prone to Aspiration Pneumonia Vomit
Some dogs are more susceptible to aspiration pneumonia, and you should never make them vomit. Some breeds, especially brachycephalic kinds with squished faces, like Pugs and French Bulldogs, are at a greater risk.
So it’s best not to help a dog throw up if it’s susceptible to aspiration pneumonia. Suppose your dog vomits and can’t swallow. In that case, it could potentially choke on its own vomit, causing lung aspiration and severe and possibly fatal pneumonia. In these cases, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
How to Make a Dog Throw Up
The most common emetic for your pet is hydrogen peroxide 3% solution. Now you’re probably wondering, “Is hydrogen peroxide safe for dogs?” Yes, it is. We normally use this liquid to treat human wounds. It works by irritating your dog’s stomach, resulting in vomiting. But you should only try this after you’ve contacted your veterinarian.
Around 90% of dogs vomitafter hydrogen peroxide administration and about 94% vomitafter they intake apomorphine. The percentage of the recovered toxin and the time for the emetic to start acting in your dog’s organism is similar for both substances.
Substances You Can and Can’t Use
Aside from apomorphine and hydrogen peroxide, the FDA announced a newly approved medication to induce vomiting in dog breeds. Clevor or ropinirole is an eye drop medicine that can cause dogs to puke. But it needs a prescription, so only your veterinarian can provide it.
You should never try homemade solutions to make your dog vomit. Concoctions with alcohol, saltwater, or ipecac syrup are all poisonous to your pet and can cause health issues. Besides, if you try to make a dog throw up with hands, you might end up bitten.
The Best Way to Throw Up a Toxin Eaten in the Last Two Hours
Now that you know how to make your dog throw up, you should also remember that the best way to do it is within two hours of first indigestion. If you successfully manage that in the first 30 minutes, you can remove up to 50% of the toxins.
After two hours of digestion, the swallowed object is no longer in the stomach and has been absorbed or moved into other parts of the digestive system, like the small intestines. If you don’t know when your dog ate something bad, you might still try to make it puke, even if nothing comes back up.
Here are a few helpful tips on how to make a dog puke:
- Use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Call your vet to get the correct dosage.
- The general dosage is one teaspoon per five pounds of weight.
- Give it with a turkey baster or feeding syringe.
- Squirt it between the back teeth.
- If there are no signs of vomiting after 15 minutes, administer a second dose.
If your dog doesn’t respond initially, you can go up to four doses every 15 minutes.
What You Should Keep an Eye On
Now that you know what makes dogs throw up, you should always ensure that the items within your dog’s reach aren’t toxic. That includes its toys and accessories. If your dog tends to chew all objects, you can try the Barkbox super chewer toys, which are specially made to ensure safety and provide fun activities.
Here’s what else you should keep an eye on, even when your dog has successfully vomited the foreign object:
- Re-swallowing the vomit
- Vomiting takes longer than 45 minutes
- Diarrhea
- Gastric ulcers
- Lethargy
- Bloated stomach
- Gastric dilation (Twisted stomach)
Keep an eye on your dog after vomiting, and if it shows any of these signs, you should call your vet for further treatment.
Last but Not Least
Let’s sum up what we learned on how to make a dog throw up.
Apomorphine and hydrogen peroxide (the general 3% one) are the best ways to do it. Also, remember that some ingested substances can cause more harm if your dog throws them back up. Bear in mind the dosage and the two-hour time frame. Also, be quick to clean up the vomit as dogs can eat it back up.
Before doing anything on your own accord, the number one priority when your dog eats something bad is always to call your vet. A professional can best assess the situation and provide a solution. If you’re uncertain how to make a dog throw up, you can always take your pet to the nearest veterinary hospital. That way, you can ensure the right treatment and any additional necessities like IV fluids or activated charcoal.
