Dogs are naturally big eaters; they won’t hesitate for a second to put anything in their mouths just to find out what it tastes like. But that hearty appetite can also lead to problems when they eat substances that are toxic for them or things that aren’t even food—not even for us.
If we suspect our furry friend has gotten into trouble and eaten something they shouldn’t have, the first thing to do is call the vet. But, if you can’t reach your vet, you’ll need to assess the situation to decide whether you should make your dog vomit or not, buying some time until you can speak to the vet or get your four-legged friend to the clinic.
When should you NOT make your dog vomit?
There are situations where you should not try to make your dog vomit, as doing so could make things worse. These include:
- If they’ve swallowed something sharp, pointed, or large. Objects like these can cause serious damage to the digestive tract, such as cuts, tears, or internal bleeding.
- If they show symptoms like excessive drooling, seizures, labored breathing, trouble swallowing, or if they’re unconscious.
- If you don’t know what they’ve swallowed. When in doubt, it’s best to go straight to the vet, especially if you suspect they’ve ingested petroleum products, corrosive substances, or surfactants.
- If more than two hours have passed since ingestion. After that time, it’s very likely the toxic substance is already in the bloodstream, so making them vomit won’t help.
- If your dog has already vomited on their own.
Home remedies to make your dog vomit
If none of the above situations apply, then you should act to induce vomiting. The methods below are not “harmless” for your dog, so after using them, you should always take your dog to the vet for a check-up.
Using hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a common disinfectant in most home first-aid kits, so you’ll likely have it on hand. You should use 3% hydrogen peroxide, about 2 ml per kilo your dog weighs (for example, if your dog weighs 5 kg, give them a dose of 5–10 ml of hydrogen peroxide).
To get your dog to swallow it, you can put it in their water bowl or, if they refuse to drink, use a syringe to squirt the hydrogen peroxide directly into their mouth. If after 10–15 minutes your dog still hasn’t vomited, repeat the process with half the original dose.
Using water and salt
If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, another way to make your dog vomit is with a mixture of water and salt. In a glass of water, add 1 to 3 teaspoons of salt, and use a syringe to give the mixture to your dog by mouth.
You’ll know if one of these methods is working if, within 10 minutes at most, your furry friend starts drooling, has nausea, or abdominal contractions.
As mentioned before, these methods can cause issues like gastritis or poisoning, so after your dog vomits, you should take them to the vet for an evaluation.
Methods NOT recommended to induce vomiting
Even though the two methods above can cause some discomfort, they are the most effective for making your dog vomit. Besides these, there are other “methods” that many dog parents have heard of, but they’re either ineffective or not recommended.
- Using oil: Oil is sometimes recommended for dogs with mild constipation, as it can help move things along in the intestines. However, it is not an emetic—in other words, it won’t make your dog vomit.
- Using milk: Adult dogs can’t digest lactose, so it stays in the intestines and speeds up transit. In other words, milk can cause diarrhea in dogs, but not vomiting.
- Sticking your fingers down their throat: In the stress and panic of seeing your dog eat something toxic, your first instinct might be to stick your fingers down their throat. This can make people vomit, but it’s not recommended for dogs. Or for their humans, since you could end up getting bitten as a natural defense.
Which substances are toxic for dogs?
In our article on toxic foods for dogs, we talk about the main products and substances your dog should never eat. These include chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic, onion, avocado, xylitol (sweetener), caffeine, and alcohol.
If your dog eats any of these in significant amounts, you should make them vomit immediately, using hydrogen peroxide or salt, and contact your vet right away.
As always, prevention is the best remedy, so keep a close eye and keep anything that could tempt your little (or big) foodie out of reach, no matter how tasty it might seem to them, they should never put it in their mouth.
At baluka we know that making your dog vomit is never pleasant. But remember, it’s a lesser evil that, depending on the substance and the amount, could save their life.
